From potential to performance, faster.
Vanguard Rising is our experiential applied learning lab that prepares military-connected talent to thrive in modern workplaces. We translate skills, build readiness, and deliver real-world project experience so candidates arrive confident, capable, and ready to contribute.
Built by The ASCEND Collective to support veterans, military spouses, transitioning service members, diverse-abilities talent, and underserved communities.
What is Vanguard Rising?
A structured, hands-on experience that builds workplace readiness and demonstrated capability through real projects.
Skills Translation
AI-enabled translation converts military and life experience into clear, civilian-ready skills that employers understand.
Career Readiness
Communication, collaboration, confidence, and workplace expectations. Candidates learn the “civilian operating system.”
Applied Experience
Team-based, Agile-style projects that mirror real work. Participants graduate with a portfolio of demonstrated outputs.
Two cohorts. One mission.
Designed to meet participants where they are and accelerate them toward future-ready roles.
Fusion Rising
For early-career leaders building momentum. Focused on translating skills, strengthening professional confidence, and gaining applied experience fast.
- Career clarity + skills story
- Workplace communication + collaboration
- Project deliverables + portfolio
Quantum Vanguard
For experienced leaders entering the frontier of modern work. Focused on strategic execution, cross-functional influence, and future-tech fluency.
- Strategic problem-solving + systems thinking
- Agile leadership + stakeholder alignment
- Portfolio + role-ready positioning
Career pathways
Choose a pathway aligned to your goals. We can also customize pathways to employer needs.
Cybersecurity
Foundations, risk mindset, security operations concepts, and employer-aligned readiness projects.
Software Engineering
Applied development workflows, teamwork, and portfolio-ready builds that demonstrate capability.
Distribution / Operations / Logistics
Process improvement, operational excellence, and execution leadership with modern tools and methods.
Want a different pathway? We can build a curriculum aligned to your organization’s roles and workflows.
How the lab works
A clear, guided journey from skills translation to real-world readiness.
For employers
A lower-risk pathway to talent that’s already prepared, translated, and ready to contribute.
Clarity
Skills profiles that map to your roles, reducing uncertainty and resumé bias.
Readiness
Candidates arrive with workplace communication, collaboration, and portfolio-ready evidence.
Concierge Support
We support both candidate and employer through readiness, matching, and onboarding.
Customize Vanguard Rising for your workforce
We can align curriculum, projects, and pathway outcomes to your roles, tools, and performance expectations. Ideal for organizations building pipelines in tech, manufacturing, operations, and mission-critical functions.
For service members and military spouses
You’re not starting over. You’re translating, leveling up, and launching.
What you’ll gain
- Clarity on your skills and career direction
- Confidence in interviews and professional communication
- Hands-on project experience and a portfolio
- A community and concierge guidance throughout the journey
What we look for
A growth mindset, reliability, and a commitment to learning and teamwork. No perfect resumé required.
Ready to join Vanguard Rising?
Apply for the next cohort, request employer customization, or download the one-pager to share internally.
Contact
Let’s build a future-ready workforce together.
FAQ
Quick answers for employers and participants.
Is Vanguard Rising only for SkillBridge?
It can support SkillBridge and other pathways for military-connected talent. Configure eligibility and timelines to your program needs.
How is this different from job fairs or resumé databases?
We translate skills, build readiness, and create applied experience first. Employers meet candidates who are already prepared and aligned.
Can employers tailor projects and curriculum?
Yes. We can align projects, tools, and outcomes to your roles so candidates learn your real-world expectations.
What outcomes should employers expect?
Lower hiring risk, faster onboarding, improved early performance, and clearer evaluation of capability through portfolios and skills profiles.