SUNY Oneonta is hosting a U.S. Army officer this month for a unique internship.
According to a news release from the college, Army Captain Taylor Baum is taking part in a Department of Defense program called SkillBridge, which connects service members with local industry partners during the last 180 days of their military service.
Baum, 31, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, is the first active service member to intern at SUNY Oneonta as part of SkillBridge, the release stated, and the campus hopes to attract other service members in the future. Baum is working with the Employee Services department learning how to support present and potential employees on campus, through recruitment searches, learning about benefits and process re-engineering.
SkillBridge “connects service members with real-world job experiences that are designed to aid the service member in finding meaningful and gainful employment after discharge,” the release stated. Through the program, the DOD continues to provide the service members with their salary, allowances and benefits while they are in training with authorized partner organizations.
“Partnering with SkillBridge is a win-win,” said SUNY Oneonta Associate Director of Human Resources Tracy Hartwell. “The program helps Taylor learn about human resources in a civilian setting, and our employee services team gets to work alongside a military professional with unique experiences and a rich perspective. Taylor’s military service has brought her to six states and two tours in Iraq — we are grateful that she chose SUNY Oneonta for her SkillBridge destination.”
Baum joined ROTC on her college campus, then was commissioned in 2015 and began her service upon graduation. After 10 years of service, she is ready to begin a new chapter of life outside of the Army, the release stated.
“I’ve been in the Army my entire adult life, and it’s the only job I’ve ever had,” Baum said. “I’ve met incredible people and I’m grateful for my military life, but now I’m ready for my next chapter. SkillBridge is an opportunity for me to transition my professional human resources military training into civilian work life. The team at SUNY Oneonta has been so welcoming and helpful. Working alongside them really excites me as I transition to a personal and professional civilian life.”
After Thanksgiving Break, Baum will report to the Pentagon for 2 weeks to officially complete her Army commitment.
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