After nearly a decade of service in the U.S. Navy, Electrician’s Mate Nathaniel Creech was ready for a new challenge. Since 2015, Creech served aboard the SSN-22 USS Connecticut, a fast-attack submarine based in Bremerton, Washington. In early 2025, as he prepared for life after the military, he began to think about his military transition.
That’s when he was introduced to the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program: a military transition assistance program, helping service members gain real-world experience in the civilian workforce before transitioning to a civilian job.
What is the SkillBridge Military Transition Program?
The DOD SkillBridge military transition program offers active-duty service members hands-on career training during their final 180 days of service. It’s designed to ease the transition from military to civilian life by providing:
- Real-world, civilian work experience
- SkillBridge job opportunities that align with your skills and interests
- Paid job training
- Networking opportunities for transitioning service members
- Clarity on “what’s next” after your service
- Higher earning potential from the start
- Career development opportunities with top companies that participate in the SkillBridge program
SkillBridge Program Opportunities with U.S. Xpress
Christina Gindi leads the team at U.S. Xpress that oversees military transition programs like SkillBridge. She works closely with transitioning service members to understand their benefits, career goals, and background to connect them with the right opportunities within the company, kind of like a matchmaker would.
Christina and her team receive more than a dozen SkillBridge program inquiries each month from transitioning service members, figuring out their next steps after service. Her goal is to support candidates through their military transition and give them someone to go to when, inevitably, questions come up. “Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions,” Christina advises. “Get the information you need to make the best choice for yourself and your family.”
Christina’s team finds that transitioning military members bring discipline, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to go above and beyond for the job. They ask smart questions, stay curious, and are committed to doing things the right way. Traits like these make transitioning military members standout contributors business-wide.
What Transitioning Service Members Bring to the Workforce
SkillBridge graduate Nathaniel Creech gained valuable interpersonal, organizational, and computer skills, during his time in the Navy. Those skills helped him get into a full-time position after graduation, doing something he loves. “U.S. Xpress was one of the first companies to respond to my resume,” Creech said. “The process was so effortless on my end, thanks to the constant communication from Christina. My questions were answered quickly, and she stayed engaged with me, all the way up to my first day. That kind of support made it clear that U.S. Xpress was the right fit for me.”
Creech joined the team in Dallas and was immediately welcomed. Though he had never stepped inside a commercial motor vehicle before, he quickly learned how to perform inspections, understand the importance of tandem positioning, and even experienced firsthand the dangers of distracted driving—via a driving simulator, of course.
“Not many service members can say they feel this grounded just two months before separation,” he shared. “I’ve found a new sense of belonging and purpose here. I already feel like I have a home outside of the Navy.”
He has brought tremendous value to the Dallas Orientation team and credits his military service with teaching him the skills needed to succeed in civilian life. He loves sharing his experience with SkillBridge and encourages other active-duty service members to take advantage of the opportunity. “If you have family or friends getting ready for military transition, I highly recommend looking into the SkillBridge Program with U.S. Xpress. It’s a unique and extremely valuable experience you won’t get anywhere else,” said Creech.
Nathaniel Creech officially separates from the Navy in late June but is already making a meaningful impact at U.S. Xpress. For him, and many others, SkillBridge is more than just a transition. It’s a launchpad.
To learn more about SkillBridge benefits and the best jobs for transitioning service members at U.S. Xpress, contact us today.