Military Education and Workforce Initiative (MEWI)

Mission 

The Military Education and Workforce Initiative (MEWI) assists veterans and service members with their transition from active duty to civilian life.

MEWI enhances employment opportunities for Virginians who have served in the United States Military, and their spouses, by providing a pathway to education, training, certifications, and technology.

Goals

• Assist institutions with creating internship opportunities for military and veteran affiliated students.
• Facilitate the employment of military-related graduates by connecting them to V3-certified companies.
• Create employment credentialing pathways through community partnerships.
• Equip military-connected students with the necessary technology to aid them in their educational endeavors.

Significance

Military-related students represent a growing pipeline of talent to Virginia employers. However, these students face obstacles that traditional students may not, which can impede their ability to complete degrees and certifications. MEWI focuses on assisting the education and training of military-connected students by providing them with the equipment and opportunities to meet the needs of their academic and career aspirations.

The Military Education and Training Workforce Initiative (formerly known as the Training and Education Alliance) is possible through a generous grant from the Altria Group. Developed with the guidance of a steering committee of 13 Virginia colleges and universities combined with in-depth research into the best practices of educational institutions across the United States, the program is both well researched and practical.

The Military Education and Workforce Initiative is seeking to partner with Virginia institutions and employers to build the Virginia veteran workforce to meet the growing talent demands of employers with well-educated, trained, and certified veterans. Join us today!

DOD SkillBridge Program

The Department of Defense (DOD) manages the DOD SkillBridge Program, an opportunity for active-duty Service Members to gain valuable civilian work experience with DOI during their last 180 days of service. DOD SkillBridge connects service members with private and public sector organizations that offer internship opportunities for transitioning Service Members to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable Federal government work experience that will help them prepare for their adjustment to the workplace. Virginia based opportunities to participate in this program may be found here. 

For Service Members, please visit the official DoD website for information on the SkillBridge Program and how to participate in available opportunities. For Employers, please refer to the new DoD SkillBridge Guidelines for detailed instructions on how to participate.

https://skillbridge.osd.mil/resources.htm

Virginia SkillBridge in Action

Hear about how Brian Heinz utilized the Virginia SkillBridge Program by viewing the video below.

Military Educational Enhancement Programs

Military Education Enhancement Programs are created to provide Military-connected students with education, training, certifications and technology to create employees with industry standards and requirements that employers strive for.

Vets on Campus Resources

Veterans entering college following military service often do not have the same college preparation guidance afforded to traditional college students. As a result, they may find themselves at a disadvantage when transitioning into and functioning successfully within a college environment. Visit the following link to learn more about specific resources for Veteran and Military-related students.

Learn more about Vets on Campus

Executive Summary

Read Our Executive Summary