# Veterans Border Patrol Training Act: What It Does

This bill creates a new program to help military members and veterans transition into jobs as Border Patrol agents. Specifically, it directs the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Department of Defense to set up a pilot program that uses the existing SkillBridge program—which already helps service members learn job skills before leaving the military—to train transitioning soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to become Border Patrol agents. The government has 180 days from when this bill passes to get the program up and running.

The practical effect is that military members who are leaving the service could potentially get trained and hired as Border Patrol agents as part of their transition to civilian life. This could benefit service members by giving them a clear career path after military service, while also helping the Border Patrol fill positions with people who already have military training and discipline. The program would be a pilot, meaning it's a test run to see how well it works before potentially expanding it.

To track how the program is working, the Department of Homeland Security would have to submit yearly reports to Congress showing how many people participated, how many applied, and what types of service members joined—including active duty members, reservists, officers, enlisted personnel, veterans, and their family members. The pilot program would run for five years and then automatically end unless Congress decides to extend it. This gives lawmakers a chance to evaluate whether the program is successful before deciding whether to make it permanent.