As a state, Arizona rises to its responsibility to support the men and women who have served our nation, and the families who stand beside them. That commitment extends well beyond their time in uniform and into the chapter where many service members begin preparing for civilian careers.

Maricopa County’s recent news release highlights its commitment to be an Arizona Veteran Supportive Employer. We are proud to be their partner in this effort, working together to support service members and their families as they transition into civilian careers.

Our collaboration with Maricopa County is rooted in a simple belief: transitioning service members deserve clear, strong pathways into civilian careers. SkillBridge is one way in which we support this belief.

SkillBridge is more than a program. It is a way to ensure that the dedication, adaptability, and technical skill of service members remain part of the fabric of Arizona’s workforce and communities. It creates a bridge that eases the transition for both the service member and their family, reducing uncertainty during a time that can feel overwhelming.

When a service member is supported in this process, their entire family benefits: financial stability, clarity about the next step, and a smoother adjustment to civilian life. Too often, we see service members transition without a support system or meaningful career pathways, which can increase stress, create financial strain, and put pressure on family life. Approaches like SkillBridge help address those challenges in a real and practical way since the transitioning service member is plugged into Arizona’s larger ecosystem of support, including the statewide Be Connected support line at 866-4AZ-VETS.

We are pleased to share that our team has already placed the next SkillBridge candidate, who will begin their on-the-job experience with Maricopa County as they prepare for their transition out of active duty. This continued momentum is exactly what we hoped to see when we began building this partnership.

Our ongoing work with Maricopa County highlights the impact that is possible when partners align around the needs of service members and their families.