Media Advisory Experts is a proud partner of the Department of War SkillBridge program. We open our client work, our newsroom habits and our production floor to the service members about to do the hardest part of the job: starting over in civilian clothes.
01
Why we say yes
We have spent years working alongside the people who serve: a year-long earned-media campaign for the U.S. Marine Corps, recruiting video production for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, strategic communications for the Virginia Military Institute, journalism training funded by the State Department. In every one of those rooms, the service members were the most prepared people at the table. Then they take off the uniform and walk into a job search that has no idea what to do with them. SkillBridge is how we do something concrete about that — one person, one mission, at a time.
A trainee at MAX is a colleague, not a checkbox
Real client work with real deadlines
Direct access to senior advisors
Transition treated as a mission, not a farewell tour
02
How the program works
SkillBridge is the Department of War's employment-training program. Eligible active-duty service members spend the back half of their military careers learning a civilian trade inside an approved organization. Providers sign a memorandum of understanding and host the training; the service member's chain of command authorizes it.
Open to any rank, enlisted or officer
Runs inside the final 180 days of service
Military pay and benefits continue throughout
At least 180 days on active duty to qualify
Command approval is granted, not guaranteed
Training and experience — not a hiring promise
03
What you'll actually do here
This is not coffee and observation. A SkillBridge trainee at MAX gets the same tools the rest of the team uses and is expected to use them well. The position we are currently advertising sits inside our strategic communications and media training practice.
Marine Week, Nashville — a live broadcast interview
Help monitor media coverage and flag what matters
Build story ideas and pitch them to working reporters
Draft releases, statements and Q&A under a clock
Sit in on client coaching sessions and level up your skills at the same time
Support video production from prep through post
Rehearse on camera and learn to hold a message
04
What you leave with
Communications skills that prepare you for what's next. What you keep is the ability to walk into a room — a news studio, a boardroom, a presser — and control the outcome. That travels to any employer, in any sector.
Message discipline that survives hostile questioning
A portfolio of work you can point to
An understanding of how newsrooms actually decide
Communications skills to guide you from boardroom to newsroom to classroom
References from people who watched you work
A civilian network that started before you separated
SkillBridge is bigger than you think
12,020
Position announcements
6,143
Approved providers
180
Days, maximum
Program totals for Q3 2026, published by the SkillBridge program office.
Ready when you are
To apply for our current SkillBridge position, visit skillbridge.org.
Look for Media Advisory Experts (a d/b/a of The Travel Lede LLC) in the SkillBridge opportunity listings and apply from there — that is how our team sees your request.
Next step
Not in uniform right now? This support is open to you too.
