Tech Internships: Introducing the Military Fellows Program

In their final months of service active duty military can work at companies while maintaining their full military pay and benefits. I believe they should use this benefit for an immersive internship experience—so we are partnering with companies throughout Silicon Valley to bring veterans to the tech workforce.

UPDATE: Apply Now to the Military Fellows Program

What's it like to work at a technology company? How about an early-stage startup? There are some great primers out there, but deep down we know these only tell part of the story. The only way to know if it's the right fit is to get inside and start working.

We hear a lot about the risks companies face when hiring veterans. Some of them are perceived, but some of them are very real:

• "There are hard skills gaps"
• "They have little to no domain knowledge"
• "They have few industry connections"

But if there's a defining characteristic we can apply to the majority of veterans (beyond a demonstrated sense of service) it's that they are world-class learners.

Over the course of 10 years someone may complete five distinct tours of duty ranging from small unit leadership to being an individual contributor on a large staff, and everywhere in between. The only real constant is learning new organizations and skillsets. The constant learners are the ones who push organizations forward.

Choosing the next move after the military is a big decision and there are also perceived risks to veterans. I hear them often:

• "I feel like I'm starting over and want the next decision to be a long-term path"
• "I want to work at a company that allows me to grow"
• "I want to work on a mission I care about and don't want to make the wrong choice"

There is a new generation of veterans creating outsized impact at technology companies: Blake at ID.me, Nick at Plated, Adam and John at Coinbase, Yinon at CarDash, Steve at Expa and countless operators turning the tide at Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Uber, and Google. It's exciting.

The problem is very few of the options available to active duty and veterans provide them with the conviction they need to pursue a non-traditional pathway. There's no substitute for getting inside and doing the job, and there aren't enough options to try out new industries in a low-risk way.

That's why we built the Military Fellows Program, allowing service members to start working in technology companies a few months before they even leave the military.

This is the program many of us wished existed when we left the military. Extremely fast-growing companies like Affirm and Uber are participating—but also startups at the very earliest stages who are seeking General Managers. If you would have told me as military bomb squad officer I could have a clear path to jumping into an Expa company a few years ago, I would have done anything for the opportunity.

Much like the most selective parts of the military, these opportunities are like a speeding train. They're hard to assess from the outside, but if you find the right fit you can experience personal growth at a breathtaking pace. Our common application is the front door to 20 technology companies who value the grit and no-fail mindset vets bring to the table.

I'm grateful for our advisors and supporters who made this program possible. If you're interested in participating or hosting a fellow in the future I'd love to hear from you.

UPDATE: Apply Now to the Military Fellows Program

To help this opportunity reach the next generation of veterans, please share this post and our video below. Thank you!

—Mike