Disclaimer: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA.

African American women with braided hair.

When Army Veteran Shameka Howell first learned about American Corporate Partners (ACP), she had been out of the Army for over 10 years. Howell, a former multi-systems operator specialist, had been working her way up the corporate ladder since 2013 but found herself underemployed after an unexpected layoff.

Just a few months into her mentorship, Howell found a new job paying $20,000 more than her previous role and was ecstatic about her experience. “By following [my Mentor’s] advice on networking, I was able to land a new, higher paying position at a company that will be paying for me to learn new skills!” she shared. “I am so grateful for [my Mentor’s] guidance and for the connection to her through ACP.”

ACP is a national nonprofit organization that helps post-9/11 Veterans find meaningful employment with a mentor’s assistance. The average starting salary was $90,000.

Since 2010, more than 35,000 Veterans and military spouses have found success through ACP.

How to get started

Visit  ACP’s Website and fill out a brief application. Answer questions about your career goals, military experience and mentoring preferences.

List of corporate logos.

What to expect after applying?

  • ACP will reach out within 24 hours and schedule a 15-minute phone call to ask a few more questions to match each Veteran with the right Mentor.
  • ACP will introduce you to a Mentor within several weeks of your application to the program and will check in throughout the year to provide customized resources and ensure positive outcomes. 98% of Veterans would recommend ACP.
  • All post-9/11 Veterans who have served at least 180 days of active duty since 9/11 are eligible.
  • ACP’s weekly LinkedIn Live series connects Veterans directly to partner companies and hiring managers.
  • ACP’s LinkedIn Group, ACP Connects, offers employment opportunities from military-ready employers and professional development resources.
  • ACP’s Small Business program, ACP Ventures, offers resources, support and community for Veterans interested in entrepreneurship.
African American woman smiling wearing black blouse.

Jonelle Hatt, another Army Veteran who separated in 2003, attests to how valuable ACP’s services have been in her career development. “I remember reading [my Mentor’s] bio and thinking, ‘This lady is amazing, I’d like to be just like her when I grow up!’” Hatt said. “I got the next best thing, which is her as my Mentor. It is such a huge addition to both my professional and personal life.” This guidance has helped Hatt find a new role she’s excited about and bolster her financial readiness for the next chapter of her life.

Apply Now at ACP online.

Senior executives from America’s top companies provide volunteer mentors to ACP, including Amazon, Disney, Lockheed Martin, MLB and more. ACP will hand-pick a mentor based on your career interests and professional history. You and your mentor will create a tailored action plan for the mentorship and speak monthly to make progress on your goals. ACP staff will help guide you through the mentorship experience to ensure success.

Typical mentorship topics include:

Résumé review and interview preparation

Career exploration

Work-life balance

Networking

Small business development

Leadership and professional communication

Man wearing collared blue business shirt.

Jake Gentile, who transitioned out of the Air Force in 2021, is pursuing a new career path with the support of his ACP Mentor. “It’s definitely nice to get connected to someone in the field you want to transition to,” said Gentile, who became interested in IT security after leaving the Air Force and accepted a technical support role during his mentorship. He appreciates ACP’s personalized approach and encourages other Veterans to participate in the mentorship program for valuable career guidance.

Join ACP’s free, personalized career mentorship program online at https://www.acp-usa.org and experience a year-long mentorship to assist you with your civilian career goals.

Link Disclaimer

This page includes links to other websites outside our control and jurisdiction. VA is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of non-VA Web sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy or terms and conditions of those sites to fully understand what information is collected and how it is used.

Statement of Endorsement

Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

Leave a comment

The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection.

7 Comments

  1. jd December 3, 2024 at 04:58

    Smells like Age Discrimination!

  2. Tonya December 2, 2024 at 10:19

    There are other Veterans who have served and paved the way for Post 9/11 Veterans. Post 9/11 Veterans are not the only Veterans who have dedicated their lives to the country. Why are Post 9/11 Veterans only allowed to participate in and with all resources to enhance their lives? What about other Veterans who have served as well. These programs are becoming embarrassing and degrading of other Veterans who have served who are looking to advance in their careers as well. I would like Internships and Mentoring as well Desert Storm Veteran 89-98.

  3. Jim Burden November 15, 2024 at 13:14

    I have spent most of my 79 years learning about all kinds of machinery and industrial processes. I grew up in a diverse engineering, manufacturing and equipment sales family.

    After a lifetime of nonstop reading and active archival library research I was exhausting all the normal logistics, energy and material fabrication paths commonly pursued.

    43 years ago I started looking into a new sustainable global economy based around a capital and operationally lower cost high speed self lowering anywhere access PRT system that replacing the use of roads, cars and trucks was designed to be less expensive connecting properties together at aircraft speed directly but lower than bulk rail freight costs, all personal mobility as well plus direct product delivery.

    A new series of designs for ultra deep large shaft CO2 based geothermal local electricity solved the electric supply capital cost bypassing power grids by using the guideway structure.

    A reduction of about 95% of current global material mass is possible using these ideas.

    Land consumption and industrial farming soil nutrients depletion, canceling nature, were bypassed in a new open food forest and savanna return of regenerative large grazing herds and mobile fields.

    Road networks are methodically requiring the destruction and interference with nature, presently at a little over 30% of right of way sequestered land area, in about 30 years heading towards 60%.

    There are no other solution sets. I have spent most of my life working on this project holding a hundred plus jobs in every basic industry type, indirectly learning about how things work and don’t work well.

    Now age and always at the career bottom rung trap me.

    The good news is nobody published in doing this.

    The bad news is nobody published is doing this, so no connection with thousands of people contacted about it. I talk physics and economics examples and they talk existing industrial market place directions. I tell them we took thousands of wrong turns. They tell me we have to make the best of the pathways we are on.

    Do you have answers to my situation?

  4. Bruce Omlor November 14, 2024 at 12:26

    I severed in the Marine Corps in the 80’s. I’m looking for a new career. Is there anything you can help me with or are your sites only for POST 911?

  5. Carl Potter November 13, 2024 at 21:21

    This article is Awesome for post-9/11 veterans. What about pre-9/11 veterans?
    USMC Sgt. Potter 1985-1991

  6. Tee November 13, 2024 at 18:32

    A Veteran is a Veteran why do programs only support post 9/11 Veterans. Other Veterans have served their time as well and should be treated the same and allowed to participate with programs as well to assist them with becoming productive citizens of society too not just post 9/11 Veterans. All Veterans should be given the opportunity to apply for all programs as well and only target post 9/11 Veterans. Yes I appreciate every Veteran but other Veterans have served our country as well.

  7. Charles Becker November 13, 2024 at 18:26

    Hello,
    My name is Charles and I have owned a trade related business for the past 30 years. Question to you is can this mentorship program be helpful to anyone in the trades.

    Thank you
    Charles Becker
    Becker Air Conditioning & Heating

Comments are closed.

More Stories