By Rob Arndt
Founder & CEO at BufferSprings

Let’s Be Real

Finding the right people for the right roles is tough. You need leaders who can actually lead, logistics professionals who keep things moving, and technical talent who can solve real problems without constant hand-holding. But hiring today is a nightmare. Good talent is expensive. Bad hires cost you time and money. And if you are still fishing in the same corporate talent pool as everyone else, you are competing for a shrinking number of candidates who may or may not even be the right fit.

Meanwhile, there is a pipeline of disciplined, high-performing professionals that most companies are completely overlooking.

SkillBridge gives you access to military leaders, technical experts, and supply chain & logistics specialists before they ever hit the open job market. These are people who have spent years leading teams, solving high-stakes problems, and adapting to mission-critical challenges.

And here is the best part. While they are working with you for up to six months, the United States Department of Defense is still paying their salary and benefits. That means you get high-caliber talent with no labor cost while you build a leadership pipeline that actually works. This is not charity. This is one of the smartest hiring moves you can make.

Where Companies Struggle and How SkillBridge Solves It

Every business has gaps. Some companies acknowledge them and fix them. Others keep making excuses while competitors pass them by.

SkillBridge gives you direct access to the right people, with the right experience, at the right time. Stop hiring based on resumes or what some recruiter told you. These are professionals who have already proven their ability to lead, execute, and get things done under pressure.

If Your Leadership Bench Is Weak, Your Entire Company Is Weak

The Problem: Managers who struggle with leadership. Teams that lack direction. Decision-making that takes forever.

The SkillBridge Solution: Military Officers and Senior NCOs

• Led teams of ten to hundreds of people in environments where failure was not an option.
• Know how to motivate, train, and hold teams accountable while maintaining a clear mission focus.
• Bring structure, confidence, and a get-it-done mindset that moves businesses forward.

Some suggestions of military folks you may want to consider: Former platoon commanders, operations officers, and staff non-commissioned officers.

But do not get too caught up in job titles. Hire for character. Train for skill. The U.S. military is the strongest in the world for a reason… because of these women and men. If you want your company to be just as strong, you need to understand what you are looking for and where to find it.

If Your Supply Chain or Logistics Are a Mess, You Are Burning Money

The Problem: Delays, inefficiencies, and rising costs. You cannot afford to wait, but your supply chain keeps slowing you down.

The SkillBridge Solution: Military Logistics and Supply Chain Experts

• These veterans have moved millions of people, supplies, and assets across the world with precision and efficiency.
• Thrive in high-stakes, fast-moving environments where planning and execution must be perfect.
• Know how to cut waste, optimize operations, and create a process that actually works.

Some suggestions of military folks you may want to consider: Former logistics officers, supply specialists, movement coordinators, and transportation specialists.

At first glance, an ammunition supply NCO might sound intimidating. Moving bullets and bombs at scale is not something you see every day in corporate America. But our military-effective partners, like PepsiCo and Frito-Lay, understand the true value behind that experience. If someone can ensure mission-critical supplies reach the front lines in combat, they can absolutely make sure millions of Americans get a cold beverage in their hands every single day without fail.

If You Cannot Find Skilled Technical Talent, Your Competitors Will

The Problem: You need cybersecurity, IT, or engineering talent, but hiring is slow, salaries keep climbing, and turnover is killing your momentum.

The SkillBridge Solution: Military Cyber, IT, and Engineering Experts

• The military produces some of the most highly skilled, highly disciplined cybersecurity, IT, and engineering professionals in the world.
• These are people with security clearances, hands-on experience, and the ability to work under extreme conditions.
• They are trained problem solvers who do not wait around to be told what to do. They find solutions and execute.

Some suggestions of military folks you may want to consider: Former cyber operations specialists, network engineers, and communications experts.

But here is the thing. You should be hiring for problem-solving ability, adaptability, and work ethic because those traits are what really drive success. Military talent brings all of that, plus the ability to learn fast and get the job done.

Make SkillBridge Work for You… With or Without Us

At BufferSprings, we don’t just talk about SkillBridge… we leverage it. Every single person on our team is a veteran. We have been through the transition, we have seen what works, and we know where companies stumble. That is why we help businesses implement SkillBridge the right way, turning it into a real hiring pipeline that brings in leaders, experts, and technical professionals who move companies forward.