The SkillBridge program, which provides service members with civilian job training before they leave the military, needs comprehensive data from the services and improved oversight, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office.

“None of the military services have conducted a comprehensive analysis of SkillBridge program data to ascertain if the program is meeting the needs of its service members,” the report found. “As a result … the military services are unable to assess if the SkillBridge program is meeting service members’ needs and are also unable to formulate corrective action plans to address any identified issues or challenges.”

Through the SkillBridge program, service members can access civilian job and employment training up to six months before they leave the military.

More than 22,500 service members enrolled in or completed a SkillBridge program in 2023, and the Army made up the largest share of program participants, according to the GAO report.

Most soldiers participating in the SkillBridge program are “fully prepared and career-ready” or require “some transition support,” the report found.

“The majority of Air Force and Army SkillBridge program participants were either Tier 1 or Tier 2, meaning they were either fully prepared and career-ready, requiring minimum transition support or moderately prepared or career-ready, requiring some transition support, respectively,” the report says.

Though the Army collects data from the SkillBridge program and began to standardize its data collection in May 2023, data collection from the services is still “ad hoc,” and the SkillBridge program “has not conducted an analysis of participation data,” the report found.

“This absence of data, analysis, and corrective action plans could make it difficult for key decision-makers to provide oversight to the program,” GAO found. “Without systematic data collection and analysis of participation data the military services administering the SkillBridge program … are not able to identify potential shortcomings of the program or identify barriers that might prevent service members from participating in the SkillBridge program.”

In terms of participation, training and brigade rotation schedules could impact soldiers’ ability to participate in the program, the report found.

“Program officials stated that required trainings and brigade rotation schedules can limit the time a service member has to complete [Transition Assistance Program] requirements, as well as limit a service member’s ability to complete the application process for a SkillBridge program,” Army SkillBridge officials told GAO.

The report recommends that the Army “collect and analyze SkillBridge program data and report that data to the Military-Civilian Transition Office along with any associated corrective action plans,” among other recommendations.

“More fully leveraging available information would better position the military services to identify potential shortcomings with the SkillBridge program or challenges facing service members participating in the program and why those challenges may occur,” the report found. “It would allow the military services to develop tailored and effective corrective action plans, and to hold themselves accountable for implementing such plans, as appropriate.”

Read the full report here.