Purpose: The transition from the military can be very difficult for the Nation’s Veterans. Determining how to pursue a new career path is difficult for anyone. The departure from the very structured military world to a civilian career environment that is dependent on personal connections and networking can make the transition seem overwhelming. Stripes to Bars intends to help Veterans through this transition using two distinct tracks:
Career Track – The media is full of stories highlighting the US and worldwide pilot shortage that is a result of increasing air travel and the retirement of large numbers of professional pilots. Previous generations heavily relied on retired and separated Veterans to fill these positions. Despite multiple programs that already exist to aid in this transition, such as the GI Bill and Federal and State Tuition Assistance, there are frequently related hurdles that prevent Veterans from attaining their transitional goals. These hurdles include limited funding and the need to complete the private pilot certificate out of pocket. This leave Servicemembers short of the qualifications necessary to be eligible for employment. Stripes to Bars aims to help Veterans navigate these gaps by providing financial scholarship to qualified applicants. Non-career Track – Servicemembers frequently describe feeling lost during the transition from military to civilian life. Aviation as a hobby can provide necessary structure during this frequently difficult time through the required ground and flight instruction that is encompassed into a well laid out syllabus, even if the Servicemember’s career transition is not focused on becoming a professional pilot. Stripes to Bars provides qualified Servicemembers the financial support to earn their Private and Instrument certificates, thereby aiding Veterans while working to increase a currently dwindling pilot population. Timeline: Stripes to Bars was founded in May 2016. We are currently busy establishing the organization and pursuing funding. Our goal is to successfully fundraise $15,000 by October 1st so that we may open our first scholarship application period, which will close on December 31st, 2016. We then intend to award our first scholarship recipient on February 1st, 2017. The frequency and timeline for following years will be determined by the amount and rate of donations. Funding: Stripes to Bars is funded through individual and corporate donations, as well as through organizational fundraising events. As a newly established Not For Profit, Stripes to Bars is currently seeking initial funding to cover administrative functions, such as establishment and management of a company webpage and production of media products, and to begin collecting funds for initial aviation scholarships awards, scheduled for distribution at the beginning of 2017.
