For U.S. Army veteran Jhakeil Jackson, the transition from military service to civilian employment began with participation in the Department of War (DoW) SkillBridge program. Jackson's Army career included assignments across Europe, where he worked alongside partner nations during joint multinational exercises.
“Training with our partner nations’ military members all over Europe was the peak of my military career,” Jackson said. “I was able to meet and connect with people I otherwise wouldn’t have.”
As his time in the Army came to an end, Jackson explored ways to use his skills in a civilian context. He learned about the Army Career Skills Program (CSP), which collaborates with SkillBridge to provide internships for service members preparing for civilian careers.
After attending a Transition Assistance Program briefing, Jackson found an internship listing on the DoW SkillBridge website that matched his interests: a Paralegal Specialist position with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO).
“When I reached out to Mr. Jeffrey Jack, CBP’s national Veterans Employment Program Manager, he was extremely enthusiastic and quick to respond, even though I was in Germany and he was in Florida,” Jackson said. “He answered every question I had completely and promptly.”
Jackson described his internship as a valuable learning experience.
“There wasn’t one boring day during my internship,” he said. “I was constantly learning— sitting down with other divisions within OFO to understand how their work connected to and supported my own office.”
“There was one major difference Jackson noticed and appreciated about his internship experience versus his military time. ‘As a civilian, your off time truly belongs to you - when you’re off, you’re off.’”
During his internship, Jackson assisted paralegals and legal technicians with daily operations, gaining insight into procedures that ensure cases are managed according to U.S. Code and federal regulations.
“Seeing how things work from the ground up enabled me to understand the duties of a CBP paralegal specialist a lot better,” he said. “There are a lot of moving parts, and having the time to see it from all angles really helped me.”
Jackson now holds a permanent position as a paralegal specialist at CBP, applying skills developed during his military service.
He encourages other service members interested in SkillBridge opportunities to prepare early: “Don’t procrastinate,” he advised. “Be aware of every prerequisite and deadline you need to meet before getting an approved internship. Start at least 12 months prior to your Expiration Term of Service date, and don’t hesitate to ask your CBP SkillBridge liaison questions — the more you know, the better off you’ll be.”
Jackson’s supervisors recognized his contributions.
“It is a privilege to welcome Jhakeil Jackson to CBP through the DoW SkillBridge Program,” said Frank Russo, Director of Field Operations for the New York Field Office. “Mr. Jackson’s military training imparted a foundation of discipline, integrity, and resilience that is essential for success in our field. The values instilled through his military background are reflected in his performance, and we are proud to have him as part of our Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures team.”
Jackson expressed hope that local offices will continue working with SkillBridge: “This opportunity gave me the ability to show that I’m not only qualified on paper but also in practice,” he said. “I’m grateful to have demonstrated that I can be an asset to the team.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization responsible for border management on land, air, and sea.
