VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A 21-year U.S. Navy service member is the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office’s first recruit through the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program.

Skillbridge, which started as a pilot initiative back in 2011, seeks to help service members transition into the civilian life through workforce training in their last 180 days of service. Thousands of military members have taken part in the program so far, the DOD says.

Chief Petty Officer Jose Herrera is the first to do so through the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, which joined SkillBridge in 2023. He started on Monday as a deputy sheriff intern with the VBSO’s Basic Academy Class 57.

“Veterans make great deputy sheriffs. They are well-trained and care about protecting and helping others. They have served our country honorably and deserve the opportunity to have a rewarding, well-paying second career. We’re proud to offer them that opportunity,” said Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. “For the VBSO, SkillBridge is a great opportunity to expand our talent pool and supplement our manpower at no cost to the city. It’s a win-win.”

Herrera, who’s originally from Los Angeles, said he chose the law enforcement internship through SkillBridge because of positive relationships with law enforcement at places he’s been stationed.

He’ll still be employed with the Navy while he’s with SkillBridge, and will receive the same training and certification that other recruits do, the sheriff’s office says.

“Our SkillBridge interns will have 180 days to decide if the VBSO is where they want to work after they leave the military, and we will have 180 days to decide if they’re a good fit for the VBSO,” said VBSO Public Safety Investigator Robert “Mac” McBride, a retired VBSO sergeant who helps vet new hires. “We have a lot of veterans who have thrived in their second career at the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office. Many find that it’s an easy transition because we’re a paramilitary organization with a similar command structure. In addition, this is a great way for the VBSO to find qualified, hard-working applicants who are ready to commit to the badge, want to serve their community, and understand our mission and high standards of conduct.”

More than 116 public- and private-sector businesses in Virginia now offering internships through SkillBridge. You can learn more about the program here.