Transitioning out of the military rarely happens overnight, and the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge initiative was built to soften that shift. HX5 taps into this framework through the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, giving active duty service members a structured runway into civilian work before their final discharge date.

The program runs 12 weeks. Fellows spend four days a week doing hands on work with their host company and one day a week in professional development training covering topics such as project management, corporate communication, and influencing without formal authority. Throughout the fellowship, participants continue receiving military pay and benefits, which removes financial pressure during a period that already carries plenty of uncertainty.

Why the Format Suits HX5

HX5, a service-disabled veteran-owned and women-owned small business led by CEO Margarita Howard, has hosted two fellows a year since 2021, for a total of eight. Howard’s own path from Air Force service to company leadership gives her a close understanding of why the fellowship’s pacing matters. Fellows arrive with technical skills but often limited experience translating that background into a civilian resume, and the 12 week window gives them room to build that bridge without losing military benefits along the way.

Applying Skills in a New Setting

HX5’s contract work, which includes advanced weapons research, sensor system production readiness reviews, and modeling and simulation for defense and space programs, gives fellows a chance to apply skills they already have in a new setting. Margarita Howard has noted that government contracting differs from commercial work in ways fellows need time to absorb.

“Experience in their respective fields, while supporting these agencies’ respective programs and missions, is very different from experience gained from working in the commercial world,” she says, explaining why the fellowship’s exposure to procurement and contract administration matters as much as the technical work itself. See related link for more information.

Find more information about Margarita Howard on https://m.doyoubuzz.com/margarita-howard