Over the course of my 20 years in the Marine Corps, I saw some pretty significant changes in how Marines transitioned out. The Marine Corps expanded and revised its transition assistance programs, complying with federal directives and evolving into what is currently the transition readiness program. One very popular tool now available is called SkillBridge. The DoD SkillBridge program is relatively new, and the Marine Corps has allowed separating Marines to benefit from it on their way back into civilian life.
A quick web search will tell anyone that SkillBridge is “an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service.” See DOD SkillBridge
SkillBridge has become increasingly more popular as service members have used it to gain hard or soft skills and to establish relationships with employers who could employ them once they transition out of the service. Learn more about Skillbridge with Flex Air.
Some have found the Marine Corps policy and history on the subject of DoD SkillBridge to be confusing at times. Below is a chronological summary to help make more sense of it.
In 2013, the Marine Corps first established guidance for Voluntary Employment Skills Training Programs with MARADMIN 550/13. It allowed Marines to participate in training programs, however it did not provide specific “how-to” information for commanders. It designated approval authority and set some eligibility criteria without specifically mentioning SkillBridge. This MARADMIN was the first headquarters-level guidance to local commanders, permitting them to approve service member participation in training programs while still on active duty.
In June of 2018, the Marine Corps released MARADMIN 350/18, which officially established the Marine Corps SkillBridge Employment Training Program. The MARADMIN cancelled MARADMIN 550/13, increased criteria for training programs, added more requirements for the Marine applying, and provided some administrative guidance for the unit regarding pay and accountability. It served as the way the Marine Corps implemented the DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1322.29 into the Marine Corps. This MARADMIN remained the only published guidance for the Marine Corps until they officially released a NAVMC, or a Marine Corps publication under the Department of the Navy publication system in 2022.
NAVMC 1700.2, published in December 2022, essentially codified the SkillBridge program and made minimal changes to the existing guidance from MARADMIN 350/18. The NAVMC asserted that SkillBridge is intended to help qualifying Marines transition out of the service, but that the unit is not obligated to release the Marine for the full maximum duration of 180 days, or even at all if it significantly affects operations to do so. The decision authority was left with the local command, or the first CO/OIC with court-martial convening authority. This applied to all Marines regardless of rank.
As the SkillBridge program increased in popularity, it became a topic of discussion with regard to its impact to manpower, as units with members absent on such programs were under-staffed until the service member actually separated from the unit. Essentially, a Marine on SkillBridge continues to occupy a billet, which is why impact to unit mission is a factor in commander approval. Regardless, the Marine needs to first apply for and be accepted by a company with an approved SkillBridge program. Apply for a SkillBridge with Flex Air here.
Without warning in October of 2023, an update to NAVMC 1700.2, version 1700.2A, was released, and it introduced tiered approval authority and eligibility criteria, as well as maximum timelines based on rank. The update triggered wide criticism, partly due to the lack of advanced notice, and partly due to some lack of clarity with regard to Marines already in the approval or execution stage of their SkillBridge programs. The Marine Corps quickly rescinded it and released a statement that the order was posted to the online library of publications prematurely, and that no policy changes were yet in effect. In the meantime, the Marine Corps referenced the original NAVMC 1700.2 as the standing policy.
In June 2024, MARADMIN 280/24 (Interim guidance) was released. This MARADMIN provided interim guidance, which re-introduced the tiered system, set to take effect 31 August, 2024. The tiers and the limitation to SkillBridge program length are as follows:
Categories, Rank, Days
Category I --- E1-E5 --- Up to 120 days
Category II --- E6-E7, WO-CWO3, and O1-O4 --- Up to 90 days
Category III --- E8-E9, CWO4-CWO5, O5 and above --- Up to 90 days
Approval authority
Categories I & II: Approval authority resides with Commanders (O‑5) and above.
Category III: Requires General Officer approval, and participation must not create a gapped billet. Joint assignments require additional endorsement from operational chain and final approval at administrative Marine command level.
As quoted from the text of the MARADMIN, “From FY21 to FY24, the service conservatively estimates more than 3,400 years of manpower were provided external to the Marine Corps.” The MARADMIN also goes on to state that the update is intended to balance transition support and force readiness.
In yet another confusing move, the Marine Corps, in April 2025, published the newest updated NAVMC, 1700.2B. In this version, no mention of the tiered categories was included, so many interpreted this to mean that those limitations had been scrapped. The Marine Corps, however, was only making updates to certain topics such as guidance for OCONUS Marines participation, and administrative and travel guidance. The tiered category system was not mentioned in the update, but it still remains in effect. Although it is very reasonable to assume that the new policy guidance would be incorporated into its newest guidance, the NAVMC did not, nor did it supersede the guidance from MARADMIN 280/24. This clarification was provided to SkillBridge coordinators on the bases, but not published to the masses. Nonetheless, SkillBridge remains a valuable tool, and allows Marines to set themselves up for future success by achieving training, experience, and building relationships in the civilian world. Visit our USMC SkillBridge information page here.
For Marines looking to take full advantage of their SkillBridge eligibility under NAVMC 1700.2B, aviation training with Flex Air (www.goflexair.com) offers an exceptional path forward. As a DoD-approved SkillBridge provider with a proven track record of launching military personnel into successful civilian aviation careers, Flex Air delivers structured, immersive flight training that builds real-world skills aligned with industry demand. Whether you're transitioning from a military aviation MOS or starting fresh, Flex Air's programs are tailored to maximize your SkillBridge opportunity with hands-on instruction, FAA certifications, and direct connections to commercial aviation employers.