Veterans are used to being mentored. From drill instructors to non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who comprise a service member’s training, the military makes it a point to ensure there’s constant mentorship and always someone to learn from. That changes when Veterans receive their DD214, but American Corporate Partners says it doesn’t have to.
American Corporate Partners (ACP) offers a completely virtual 1-on-1 mentoring program to assist Veterans with career development, networking, and general mentorship. It takes just one hour a month with a hand-picked mentor that is supported by ACP staff along the way. Veterans are paired with a mentor for one year allowing 12 sessions in total.
ACP offers Advisor Net, an online networking resource that is a great place to ask questions to a variety of advisors and find new networking opportunities. Questions like “What are the best government contracting companies to work for?” or “Does anyone have any contacts at Raytheon?” Users can connect on discussion boards or in private messages, and members are searchable by location so Veterans can find local mentors or in-person networking possibilities.
Many Veterans also ask questions related to business development and entrepreneurship on Advisor Net.
“Our secret sauce is the human touch we put on the mentor matching. It’s not a random algorithm. We know our Veterans and we know our mentors” – Colleen Deere, American Corporate Partners Executive Director
Who are the mentors?
Many are from Fortune 500 companies. All are industry experts who simply want to give back to those who served. ACP matches Veterans with their mentors to provide the best experience on both sides. Notable mentors include Rupert Murdoch, George Oliver (CEO of Johnson Controls) and the Chairman of the Board of Bloomberg. Outside the boardroom, many mentors are teachers, nurses, law enforcement officers, cyber security experts, human resource managers, and countless others that form a strong and diverse mentorship network.
Who is eligible?
Any post 9/11 Veteran who has served on active duty for at least 180 days is eligible for the ACP mentorship program. Active duty spouses are also eligible for mentorship programs. All Veterans may access Advisor Net.
How to apply?
Visit www.ACP-USA.org and fill out an application, which generally takes about 10 minutes. Answer questions that include background, interests, military experience and mentoring preferences, such as gender or Veteran preferences.
What to expect after applying?
ACP will reach out within 24 hours and schedule a 15-minute phone call to ask a few more clarifying questions to match the applicant with the perfect mentor.
To date, 17,000 Veterans have completed ACP’s mentorship program. In 2018, 86% of those hired during the program were still with the company in 2019. Last year, 2,000 Veterans were hired while enrolled in ACP’s mentorship program with an average salary of $80,000.
ACP is actively recruiting both Veterans and mentors. (It takes just 1 hour a month to mentor.)
The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on part of the VA.
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They almost always preface these programs with Pre-911. It’s almost laughable how they’re dismissive of veterans that served before it became fashionable!
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Really a bummer to get completely cut out of the most successful programs and also downgraded on everything else. We pre 911 veterans served when doing so was highly unpopular, very unappreciated, and very, very underpaying. We provided a bridge over very troubled era to this present day, and sacrificed the precious time we had been given to struggle to make volunteerism work. Seems that our needs are underrated while the world’s society believes in ramping fortunes to drama queens and quid pro quo.
First of all thank you for your service, pre or post 9/11. One of the reasons this is most likely offered to post 9/11 veterans is that if you are a veteran from before 9/11 you are most likely established in your career of choice at this point. This is not always true I know.
This is terrible and down right shitty so the what you are saying in my opinion is that the veterans before 9/11 ain’t worth nothing forget them I am DAV and you don’t want to help me I almost wish I have never served
Interested in this program. That being said, I have seen many replies regarding Pre 9/11 veterans.
Alternate comment on this program. Is there a mentoring program relating to starting new businesses for evaluation and tricks of the trade to be successful?
Thanks in advance
I hear an empathize with the frustrations of my vet friends and families. There have been and as usual in my life to feel overlooked. I can’t help but remember that we did spend our time serving so that things like this could exist for our future generations. If the invitation is there and not enough people participate that are invited to the party then there will still be food and seats available to those who were not previously invited. Opportunity is a door that is always open. The answer likely is try signing up and see what happens. If someone can I utilize you for this opportunity maybe they will think of you when another comes up. Keep up the faith and say here I am. I would rather be miserable my whole life trying to climb the mountain then be old and never have taking the next step. May God bless you all and thank you for your service. I personally must take the steps for those that I know didn’t get the opportunity. Those truly great people the left us behind in their youth. I see their faces when I lack strength and courage. The gift they have given me to climb the mountain I will never forget. Thanks again everyone has done an amazing service because everyone signed on the bottom line not knowing what would be required of them. Everyone service member gave their life once most of us were lucky to get it back. Just like every spouse took on the idea that their dreams of family life could disappear. In my experience bases tend to be located in areas with depressed economies in the spouses of our service members living in those places give up many professional opportunities to support us in our duties. For those of us that are injured the spouse may be the only means of family support.
Greetings I’ve enlisted for the draft in Dec of 72 and served in the U.S. Army and Reserve program for a totally of 18 years of honorable service in the Armed Forces of this country. Currently I’m serving as the Vice President for a 501 (c) 3 NonProfit veterans organization where we do What’s Best for Vets here in the Metro Detroit area. We service a lot of vets that are pre 911 how can we participated in your program…???
I Wonder which org. I’m in Puerto Rico starting a 501c3 for female veterans with MST/PTSD. I would love to have a mentor with experience helping veterans.
Just like other pre-9/11 veterans, I do not understand why the discrimination. Boring. Entire article is a waste of my time and dedication.
Hello, I am Ken Weed, a retired Army Major with 24 years Management experience an MBA Project Management and some additional Project Management/ and IT Management training, I am seeking something a little above entry level but not expecting a Senior Management Position.
I am also trying to sign up for your program and can log in or sign-up. Already a member???
Noticed the comments … on why would post 9/11 spouses be eligible but not pre 9/11 veterans and , also, why is pre 9/11 service not held in the same regard as post 9/11? Bottom line, will benefit be changed so that pre 9/11 veterans our eligible? To, whom it may concern, I would love to have the question answered and as pre 9/11 vet be eligible for the benefits that some vet spouse are eligible for.
I completely agree with you. How can a spouse (a civilian/someone whom has not served AT ALL) be eligible over veterans.
just like walmart hiring post-911 vets only. it’s like they don’t give a sh_t about pre-911 vets
I too am interested in finding resources for PRE 9/11 Veterans. Not sure why the disparity of opportunity.
Proctor and Gamble are products that I have used regularly so why wouldn’t I want to be a part of the team there.
I would love to enter this Program because this development is what I’ve been looking for. Hunter Douglas and Peoctor and Gamble has been on my short list for years but told they still have my application on file. I thought my experience with CH 53-E’s and well as VFA-87 would have helped me by now.
It’s a bit insulting to see that active duty spouses are eligible but not all veterans.
I am very interested in being mentored. I am confused though why it states “Any post 9/11 Vet is eligible”
What about pre-9/11. Our we eligible as well is was our service not as important as those who served after 9/11
I have been directly affected by COVID-19 and would benefit from this program as well.
Please advise if I am eligible
Bob Starace
I’m a combat disabled veteran from Vietnam. When I got out there were very few programs for the veteran then. Like then, now it is for someone else. Sad….
Don’t feel bad. If this is like many of the other programs. They are meant to provide jobs for the civilian mentors. If the vet gets any money or benefit it will be the 2% that already would have made it on their own.
5 years after my ETS I was still not paid for my final move. Then one day I got a bill for the over payment they claim they made to me. So even though I never got the money they later claimed they did and boom. I had to pay it.
Now they say that they over paid my BAH for the post 911 GI Bill. So it happens that I own them almost every penny they paid me back then. I am not the only one I work with a Purple Heart Recipient and they are taking money out of his pension to cover a BAH over payment they also claim with no proof to have made.
So be glad they didn’t have anything. I be surprised if this leads to anything other than great pay for the mentors and nothing substantial for the vets.
I served my country before 9/11 and was never offered this kind of opportunity. Why is this opportunity not given to all veterans and spouses who are not retired so that we can benefit from this opportunity? I have a Masters in Mental Health and I am a LMSW.
I see no reason why veterans prior to 9/11 should be excluded from this program. Unless, of course, you are engaged in age discrimination. Age should have nothing to do with it. Ask Rupert Murdoch at what age he plans to retire.
so once again people that saved prior to 9-11 get the hose. Our service wasn’t good enough. I got my dd-214 6 weeks before 9-11. It wasn’t what I wanted, I got medically retired due to a spinal cord injury at the age of 25. I wanted to stay active and would have if at that time they allowed people to do so. So as im trying to learn how to walk and programs started to become more prevalent, I was never accepted into them. Pretty darn crappy being disabled from service and completely forgot about afterwards. Really disappointed all these are only for post 9-11. I hate my life and all these non-profits….
Why are outside companies held responsible for hiring veteran. Shouldn’t go start at the root, military itself. When their a disabled veterans without a job, veterans trying to go to school while living in their car because they CAN’T find a job. Do you know how hard it is to get clearance to work on base as an American Citizen!!!!
Hire your own, we WOULDN’T be homeless, can’t find jobs if you hired us first. Just saying! We don’t need ford we need PX, NEX, commissary, more part-time jobs on base available for us.
Karen, as of the beginning of this year they expanded access to the Commissary and such. Look around on Military.com for some articles covering new rules and what ID you need.
What is the age range?
Thanks for not sharing my email address.
I am looking forward to learning about a variety of professions available for Veterans like the.