Oneida County announces internship program linking soldiers to sheriff’s office jobs

ORISKANY, N.Y. — Oneida County has announced a new program that will provide U.S. Army soldiers with internships that can lead to full-time jobs with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

“Our service men and women are valuable assets to our nation and our local communities,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. said in a news release about the program. “The SkillBridge program not only helps them transition back into civilian life, but its internships supply a quality, highly trained and motivated 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 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 to 90 days before their active duty is over, so they receive full pay from the 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 they can seamlessly transition from serving in the Army to serving with the sheriff’s office. Oneida County’s SkillBridge program is the only other one in the nation besides a program in 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 Unites 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,” Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol said.

There are currently three soldiers approved to intern: Corporal Andrew Leibnow, Specialist Jay-Cee Miller, and Specialist Dylan Schopan.