A STRATEGIC FUTURE
Empowering careers. Building community. Changing lives.
As you prepare to transition from military service, you deserve meaningful opportunities that recognize your skills, expand your experience, and position you for success in your civilian career.
Through a SkillBridge internship with The ASCEND Collective, you can directly support our mission while gaining hands-on experience in workforce development, talent matching, data, outreach, communications, and organizational strategy.
Our programs—including Northern Compass Academy, Boots2Bytes, and the L-EAF Lab partnership—help veterans, military spouses, and underserved talent ascend toward meaningful careers using a skills-first, human-centered approach.
Now, you can help lead that impact.
Why Choose The ASCEND Collective for Your SkillBridge?
- Mission-aligned: You’ll continue serving military families, veterans, spouses, and underserved communities.
- Resume-ready experience: Build real-world expertise in workforce, HR, business development, data, and nonprofit operations.
- Meaningful impact: The work you do creates opportunity, reduces underemployment, combats food insecurity, and directly supports economic mobility.
- Professional network expansion: Connect with employers, community leaders, and national partners.
- Supportive environment: Our team understands military transition—we’ve helped thousands navigate the same path.
HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS
Work With Us
You can choose between four career paths.
- Career and Education Support Track – Ideal for those interested in HR, workforce development, coaching, training, or people operations.
- Employer and Business Engagement Track – Great for those interested in business development, HR, recruiting, sales, or outreach.
- Community Outreach and Communications Track – Perfect for interns interested in communications, marketing, public affairs, storytelling, or advocacy.
- Organizational, Data, and Operations Support Track – Excellent for interns interested in analytics, project management, nonprofit operations, or administration.
Match Your Skills
With your profile, you will also be matched with employers for career opportunities at their company.
Connect to Resources
We have an extensive network or mentors, coaches, groups and connections to work with you.
Ready to Start Your SkillBridge Journey?
We’d be honored to support your transition.
Fill out the form below and we will be in contact with you!
Your service has already changed lives—now let’s build the next chapter together and help even more people ASCEND.
REGISTER FOR AN INTERNSHIP AND MORE INFORMATION
Donate and Sponsor a Service Member
Through Our Collaboration with L-EAF Lab, participate in a Free Talent Incubator and gain hands-on learning experiences in agile foundry, where you will earn certifications in WorkFLOW and Nested WorkFLOW.
- The L-EAF Lab’s mission is to prepare students for 21st century by training them in the skills they’ll encounter beyond the classroom.
- What sets the Lab apart is a commitment to agility. Students actively engage as teams, collaborate, and tackle real-world challenges.
- They empower students with the executive skills that transcend classroom boundaries. Within the lab, students master team collaboration, honing skills in prioritization, planning, execution, and iterative improvement.
- Students craft digital portfolios showcasing their skills and accomplishments. These portfolios are living proof of their growth and professional acumen.
- Ready to transcend your business with talent skilled in agility? Email us at talentsuccess@theascendcollective.org
Free IT Training Now Available Through Our Collaboration with iZen
- Tailored for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses.
- Develop in-demand skills in Cybersecurity and AI-ML
- Gain real-world experience and certifications
- Enhance leadership and soft skills with veteran mentors
- Get personalized support for job readiness and placement
The Compass Discovery Channels
At The ASCEND Collective, we believe success starts with understanding your potential. Through our partnership with the Foundation for Talent Transformation, participants embark on a personalized Compass Discovery Channels — an interactive experience that helps uncover their strengths, preferences, and motivations.
This isn’t a test — it’s a guided exploration of what makes each person unique. The insights gained translate into practical, skills-first career direction, showing how natural talents align with real-world opportunities across industries. Participants receive a personalized strengths profile and career navigation map, empowering them to make informed, confident choices about their professional future.
Whether transitioning from military service, re-entering the workforce, or seeking a more fulfilling career path, the Compass Discovery Channels offer clarity, confidence, and direction. It’s not about finding just any job — it’s about discovering where your skills, values, and purpose align.
From there, participants can continue their development through Northern Compass Academy’s career readiness tools — including personalized coaching, interview preparation, and access to The ASCEND Collective’s AI-powered matching platform, which connects talent to employers who value skills over resumés. Together, these resources provide a full-circle pathway to success, transforming insight into opportunity and potential into purpose.
Discover. Align. ASCEND.