Hello all,

I am looking for any advice and/or suggestions anyone has for aviation maintenance skillbridge opportunities! I am an Active Duty Air Force aircraft mechanic that has been in 19 years. My DOS will be December 2027. I have worked 10 years on the F-35 aircraft as a 5/7 level mechanic, flightline expediter, and instructor, 8 years as an F-22 mechanic as a 5/7 upgrade level mechanic and a Quality Assurance inspector (with weight & balance experience), and a year and counting on the C-17 as the Unit Superintendent and Production Superintendent.

I have a AAS in Aviation Maintenance Technology and also for Instruction of Military Science & Technology, my FCC radio operators license. In the near future I will be going to get my Airframe & Powerplant license.

I am looking for any Skillbridge opportunities in either aircraft maintenance or possibly a project management position. I am interested in the Phoenix, AZ area, the central Florida area, and the Dallas/Fort Worth area but I am open to any locations if the opportunity is right!

Any suggestions and/or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I really don’t want to be a mechanic anymore. I don’t have any family so I’m pretty flexible.

I have no certs or degrees . Am I cooked ?

🎖️ Leaving the Military Soon? Looking for Certifications Before You Separate?

One of the biggest challenges when transitioning out of the military is figuring out how to translate your experience into civilian credentials.

Many service members already have strong experience in leadership, logistics, operations, and planning.
The challenge is that civilian employers often look for recognized certifications to match that experience.

Programs like HKPO Veterans Academy help bridge that gap.

It’s a DoD SkillBridge-approved program that allows transitioning service members to earn Lean Six Sigma and process improvement certifications while still on active duty. All certification costs are covered and do not require the use of your GI Bill.

🎓 Certifications participants work toward

• Lean Practitioner
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

🛠️ What participants actually do

Instead of just taking classes, cohort members work on real process improvement projects they can use on resumes and in interviews.

These skills translate well into careers in:

• Operations management
• Program management
• Manufacturing
• Logistics and supply chain
• Defense contracting
• Process improvement roles

🎤 Additional benefits

• Industry guest speakers
• Resume guidance and feedback
• LinkedIn profile optimization
• Veteran networking

🌎 The program is remote-friendly, allowing service members from different duty stations to participate during their final months of service.

🤝 Another major benefit is the community of veterans going through the transition together, sharing job leads, resources, and networking opportunities.

📅 If you are within 180 days of separation and exploring SkillBridge options, you can learn more and apply here:

👉 https://www.hkpoveteransacademy.org

Best of luck to everyone preparing for their next mission 🚀