The interview process for the CAD MSSA Skillbridge Program was relatively easy. However, because I already had experience in software development, I was denied a position in the program. Although this was upsetting, I understood their reasoning. What was most upsetting was the fact that I was attempting to use the Skillbridge program, offered by the military, to help service members gain professional experience and make the transition to civilian life much easier.

In order to qualify for the Skillbridge program, the service member must be within the last 180 days of their contract, which I was. It is a very long process to get approval from the command; I started the process of requesting approval a year and a half before my separation date. Basically, in the Air Force, because the process can be so long and tedious, you really are only given one opportunity to get accepted into a program. The exception is if the program can quickly accept or deny your application, giving the service member enough time to apply for another.

I made this very clear to Microsoft and the MSSA Team, to which they assured all candidates would receive their application denial in a timely manner to give the service member enough time to apply to other programs. I received my denial letter only two weeks before the program was set to start, which meant I had no time to apply to an alternate program. Luckily, my command was accommodating and allowed me to participate in another program. Had it not been for my incredible leadership team, I would not have been able to Skillbridge.

Tell me about a time you were put in a leadership position.