Bipartisan Blackburn bill grows Onward to Opportunity Program for veterans

Bipartisan legislation recently sponsored by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) would expand the nation’s leading career preparation and training program for United States service members transitioning to civilian life.  

“Our veterans deserve to have the opportunity to thrive after leaving the Armed Forces,” Sen. Blackburn said on Nov. 11. 

The Onward to Opportunity Act, S. 3161, which Sen. Blackburn introduced on Nov. 3 with original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), specifically would expand the Onward to Opportunity Program to five additional military installations, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s staff.

If enacted, S. 3161 also would create a pilot program to supplement the current Transition Assistance Programs and would establish a public-private partnership with eligible nonprofit organizations to provide career counseling, job training, certifications, and job placement services to transitioning service members, the summary says.

“When our service members begin the transition into civilian life, they often struggle with finding employment and achieving financial stability,” said Sen. Blackburn. “My bipartisan legislation addresses this issue directly by providing individualized career training programs and job placement services to help our service members transitioning to civilian life.”

In carrying out the pilot program, the U.S. Secretary of Defense shall award grants to eligible entities that would provide covered individuals with numerous services, including preparation for civilian employment through services such as mock interviews and salary negotiations, training on professional networking platforms, and company research, according to the text of the bill, as well as several industry-specific learning pathways in fields such as project management, cybersecurity and information technology.

The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee for consideration.