U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) partners with the Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge Internship Program to provide transitioning servicemembers, who are 13 months away from military separation, the opportunity to transition into permanent CBP positions at no-cost to the agency. CBP’s Veterans Employment Program Manager (VEPM), Jeff Jack, oversees the national placement of DoD SkillBridge interns into non-law enforcement, mission support professions. SkillBridge cannot be used to staff frontline law enforcement positions.
Current CBP, DoD SkillBridge training specialist intern and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Gilbert Magallanez has important advice in utilizing the SkillBridge program at CBP.
“Participation in SkillBridge at CBP has afforded me the opportunity to take my future into my own hands and go after my CBP career aspirations aggressively and proactively,” Gilbert said. “We all go through this transition from the military. It can be daunting and sometimes directionless as opposed to the great structure of a military career. My SkillBridge internship experience with CBP clarified and focused my post military career direction. It can for you too.”
Gilbert’s military career is distinguished by selfless service and honor above all. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces in 2003, deploying twice to Kuwait and once to Iraq. Through his military contacts, Gilbert learned of a SkillBridge training specialist internship role working within CBP’s U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR), at USBP’s Special Operations Group (SOG), headquartered in El Paso, Texas. BORTAC and BORSTAR direct their nationally dispersed assets from SOG, providing USBP with immediate tactical and emergency response assets.
“This internship afforded me an unprecedented 'inside look' of experiencing CBP's elite BORTAC/BORSTAR mission,” stated Gilbert. "Prior to interning, I didn’t think I would consider applying for a uniformed agent position with USBP. After becoming familiar with the mission and receiving valuable insights from various contacts within SOG, I changed my stance and applied for the Border Patrol agent position.” Gilbert continued, “Even though my internship is a non-law enforcement one as a training specialist, the skillset acquired during my military career, fits so well within the USBP/SOG’s mission and are utilized frequently in my CBP Skillbridge role.”
Gilbert emphasized, “Perhaps the greatest benefit of the Skillbridge program is being relieved of military obligations and having the opportunity to focus on my family, myself, and my transition. Had I remained on active duty through my terminal leave start date, I would not have been able to achieve the amount of retirement and civilian workforce preparation as I have had with CBP via this SkillBridge internship.”
Gilbert explained that this support role via SkillBridge clarified his desire to stay in law enforcement as he is enthusiastic about joining the USBP as a Border Patrol agent post internship with aspirations of joining either BORTAC or BORSTAR as his career progresses.
If you are at least 13 months from separation and want to “take your post-military future into your own hands,” contact CBP’s national VEPM Jeff Jack (Jeffrey.R.Jack@cbp.dhs.gov).