Effort Aimed at Career Advancement, Recruiting

The Pentagon on Wednesday outlined a series of specific efforts to revamp Defense Department recruiting, retainment, and interaction with the private sector. These efforts include improving the Pentagon’s college internship programs, establishing a Digital Defense Service of private sector experts to streamline DOD technological efforts, launching an entrepreneur in residence program of three private sector leaders, creating a chief recruiting officer, and expanding the Corporate Fellows Program with companies to include enlisted leaders along with officers. The effort will also increase the career intermission program to let more service members take sabbaticals from service for personal or career advancement reasons without harming their chances for promotion. The effort is just kicking off, said a senior defense official, who noted that the Pentagon is looking for new human resources-related efforts, such as modernizing the military retirement system, and looking for help with Congress where needed.