Military Community
From the point of intake, the Veteran1 and Eligible Spouse2 are given priority access to a variety of services and programs designed to help them gain meaningful employment. Please identify yourself as a Veteran or Eligible Spouse when visiting any of our centers!
Veteran Intake Form
CareerSource Okaloosa Walton offers:
- Priority service for our service men and women
- Career and professional counseling
- Providing labor market information about jobs and employers in the area
- Assistance in adapting skills and abilities to the labor market
- Assistance with Hot Jobs and locally posted positions
- Help with using the internet to expand your job search
- Recommendations for training and education to qualify you for better jobs and careers
- Information about job programs and training for Veterans
- Support and guidance on how to use resource rooms
- Resume preparation and critique
- Job development for Veterans with barriers to employment
- Providing information on social services and family support
- Referring Veterans to the Department of Veterans Affairs and providing information about medical benefits
- And more
An attempt is made to match actively registered Veterans to every new job listing when it first enters our job bank. If a match is found, a job alert is sent to the Veteran who matches certain criteria such as education, relevant work experience, and occupational goals. You must be registered at www.EmployFlorida.com to take advantage of this program.
Daily emails with information on job fairs, new job listings, and local currents events for Veterans. Be in the know. See it first. Sign up by emailing us at Veterans Daily Email
Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
TAP is a three-day workshop for service members and their spouses that teaches modern job search, career decision-making, labor market conditions, resume preparation, and interviewing strategies. TAP makes the transition from military service to the civilian workforce less complicated and significantly shortens the job search process. Register by contacting the Eglin Airmen and Family Readiness Center at (850) 882-9060 or the Hurlburt Field Airmen and Family Readiness Center at (850) 884-1257. Register for the online portion and additional TAP resources.
We conduct several Job Fairs annually that are planned specifically to match Veterans with the area’s top employers. Announcements will be made on the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton website and on our social media sites.
Participants in this program are a crucial part of the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Veterans Team. The Veterans Affairs Work Study Program is available to any student receiving Veterans Affairs educational benefits by attending school at least 75% of the time. As a Veteran participating in the Work Study Program, you may work at career centers, university or college offices, Veterans Affairs Vet Centers, Veterans Affairs medical centers or authorized sites. Work-Study students are paid at either the state or federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. Contact us if you are interested in part-time employment as a VA Work Study.
Your local CareerSource Okaloosa Walton center regularly conducts Career Success Workshops to enhance your job seeking skills. Check our Calendar for topics and availability.
Through the Get There Faster program, the Northwest Florida Military Outreach Collaboration, which includes CareerSource Escarosa, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, CareerSource Chipola and CareerSource Gulf Coast, provides a regional approach to employment and training services for veterans, transitioning military and eligible military spouses throughout the twelve counties that comprise Northwest Florida.
We proudly support the men and women who served our country, particularly at one of the following installations: NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, 7th Special Forces, NAVSEA, NSA Panama City and Tyndall AFB.
Employment and training services include:
- Career counseling including career assessments, career exploration and understanding local, regional and statewide labor market information
- Employment readiness services including resume development, access to professional attire, interviewing skills and mock interviews
- Referrals to community organizations that assist veterans with issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, temporary shelter, food, transportation, and utilities
- Scholarships up to $6000 for industry-recognized, in-demand education and training programs
- Access to employers offering On the Job Training (OJT) and other work- based learning opportunities
The DoD SkillBridge – Internship Active Duty Service Members who are within 180 days of separation to accept internships with a company in their desired industry and/or career field.
Program Eligibility:
- Service Member must be within 180 days of approved retirement or separation
- Participation depends on unit and mission requirements; approval is granted through command authorization and the Transitioning Service Members (TSMs) Education Center
CareerSource Okaloosa Walton’s Role:
Our role is to help connect TSMs with employers throughout Okaloosa and Walton counties. CareerSource provides individualized career guidance: local labor market information,occupational trends throughout the region, assistance with translating military skills, and creating/tailoring a resume.
Our staff has relationships with employers throughout the bi-county region and will connect with them to share your resume and credentials and to identify possible internship opportunities as well as assist them in gaining DoD approval for Skillbridge participation.
How to Participate:
If Interested in the DoD SkillBridge – Internship, please contact us or email: vets@careersourceow.com
The following steps MUST be completed for the TSM to participate in an internship:
- Determine Eligibility by contacting your Education Center and obtaining information on the DoD SkillBridge – Mandatory counseling/briefing and a copy of the Vetting Checklist
- Explore internship opportunities by completing the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Intake Form and looking at the current internship opportunities (Note: we will contact employers outside of those registered to participate)
- Once matched with an employer, have the employer complete the vetting checklist created by DoD- Upon completion, they will be added to the approved Skillbridge list which is tracked by your Installation Education Center
- Begin training, growing as a professional, and acclimating to life after the military
The Military Family Employment Advocacy is a state program designed to deliver priority workforce services to active-duty military spouses and family members. Get valuable assistance from a Military Family Employment Advocate (MFEA) who understands local Labor Markets and the needs of military spouses and dependents.
Our MFEA team provides services to the following local bases:
- Eglin AFB
- Hurlburt Field
- 7th Group
- Duke Field
Eligibility:
- Spouses and dependents of active-duty personnel
- Activated Florida National Guard Members
- Other military reservists whose units have been activated
Available services include:
- State-wide Job Bank
- Resume Assistance
- Employment Counseling
- Computer Learning Labs
- Case Management
- Job Search and Placement Assistance
- Referrals to Jobs
- Referrals to Educational Programs and Training
- Interview Training
- Labor Market Information
- Career Success Workshops
Your Advocates:
Mayra Reynoso
Phone: (850) 461-7629
Email: mreynoso@careersourceow.com
Rachel Vazquez
Phone: (850) 833-7587 Ext. 2103
Email: rvazquez@careersourceow.com