Picente & Maciol Announce Internship Program to Link Soldiers to Sheriff’s Office Jobs

SkillBridge Program Partners Oneida County & U.S. DOD

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. and Sheriff Robert M. Maciol announced today the establishment of a program that will provide U.S. Army soldiers with internships that can lead to full-time jobs with the Sheriff’s Office.

“Our service men and women are valuable assets to our nation and our local communities,” Picente said. “The SkillBridge program not only helps them transition back into civilian life, but its internships supply a quality, highly-trained and motived workforce at no cost, which can then lead to permanent employment. Establishing the program here in Oneida County was an opportunity that could not be passed up and I look forward to the impact it will have on our Sheriff’s Office.”

The U.S. Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program allows soldiers who are nearing the end of their active duty service to intern in a career of their choice as they transition back into civilian life. The internships typically begin 60-90 days before their active duty is over, so they receive full pay from the U.S. Army while they learn about a potential new career.

Oneida County’s program will offer internships in the Sheriff’s Office to soldiers stationed at Fort Drum in Watertown. Participants will work 40 hours a week learning job responsibilities, skills, rules and regulations and practices. While interning, they will be given the opportunity to apply for upcoming civil service exams and vacant positions within the Sheriff’s Office. The soldiers can also have their background process completed during the internship, so that they can seamlessly transition from serving in the U.S. Army to serving with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

Oneida County’s SkillBridge program will be the only one in the nation other than California to provide internships in the field of law enforcement.

“It is truly an honor for the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office to be the first law enforcement agency in New York State and the second in the country to have an approved law enforcement internship program with the United States Army to ensure that there is a real and actual opportunity for our brave soldiers to transition from protecting our nation to protecting our community,” Maciol said.

There are currently three U.S. Army soldiers approved to intern at the Sheriff’s Office: Corporal Andrew Leibnow, Specialist Jay-cee Miller and Specialist Dylan Schopan.

Soldiers at Fort Drum can apply for Oneida County’s SkillBridge program through their chain of command. Once authorization is granted, Fort Drum officials then contact the Sheriff’s Office to schedule an interview for the candidate, and upon approval, an internship is granted. There is zero cost to the county.

Press conference video link: https://fb.watch/bExH-NFd_E/

Photo: (L-R) U.S. Army Specialist Dylan Schopan (Intern); U.S. Army Specialist Jay-cee Miller (Intern); Lorilei Matteson, Career Skills Program Installation Administrator for U.S. Army at Fort Drum; Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.; Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol; and Sgt. Carey Phair, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol (U.S Army veteran).