Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

This bill creates a pilot program to train and hire transitioning servicemembers as U.S. Border Patrol agents. The Department of Homeland Security must work with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to use the Defense Department’s SkillBridge program to provide the training and help servicemembers move into these jobs. The program must start within 180 days of the law taking effect and will run for five years once launched.

Each year, DHS must report how many people applied and participated, and break down participants by groups such as active-duty members, reservists, officers, enlisted members, veterans, and the spouses and dependents of these groups.

Key points

• Who is affected: Transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses and dependents interested in Border Patrol careers.
• What changes: A new pilot program uses the DoD SkillBridge program to train and hire people as Border Patrol agents, with annual reporting on participation.
• When: Starts within 180 days of enactment and ends five years after it begins.