Veteran-Specific External Programs

Beyond Baylor's own resources, a number of national organizations exist specifically to develop veteran leaders. Most are free or low-cost, and several are directly connected to Baylor VETS or Veterans of Baylor already.

ⓘ Already using ACP or the SVA Leadership Institute? American Corporate Partners and the SVA Leadership Institute are covered on the Mentorship & Networking page, since their core value is the relationship, not the program itself.

SALUTE Honor Society BAYLOR CHAPTER

The first national academic honor society established specifically for student veterans and active military, at both 2-year and 4-year institutions. Baylor has an active chapter. A 4-tier system, based on GPA, encourages undergraduate student veterans to advance to higher tiers (and scholarship brackets) throughout their academic career — membership and recognition carry forward for life.

View Baylor's SALUTE Honor Society →

Pat Tillman Scholars

A merit-based scholarship and lifelong leadership network for active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses pursuing graduate or professional degrees. Beyond funding, scholars join a national community of more than 1,000 leaders, with career support and leadership development built in. Acceptance rate is under 3%. Applications typically open December 1 and close February 1 — check the site for current-year dates.

Apply to the Pat Tillman Scholars Program →

Warrior-Scholar Project (FREE)

Free, intensive one- and two-week college-preparatory academic boot camps for enlisted veterans and transitioning service members, hosted at partner universities (Harvard, MIT, Texas A&M, and others). Offered in three disciplines: Humanities, STEM, and Business & Entrepreneurship. Warrior- scholars are mentored throughout by student veterans who've already made the transition.

Explore the Warrior-Scholar Project →

FourBlock (FREE)

A free, semester-long, cohort-based career-readiness program with weekly employer immersion visits to companies across industries. A core partner in the Veteran Employment Collective alongside Hiring Our Heroes.

Learn About FourBlock →

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) FREE

For veterans interested in founding a business rather than being hired into one. A highly selective, free, three-phase program: a 30-day online curriculum, an 8–9 day in-person residency at a partner university (Texas A&M, Purdue, Cornell, UCLA, and others), and 12 months of follow-on mentorship. Open to post-9/11 veterans, National Guard/Reserve members, and active-duty members within 180 days of separation.

View the EBV Consortium →

Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship

A 12-week, hands-on fellowship placing transitioning veterans directly inside a host company for real corporate experience, run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Apply for a Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship →

Not to be confused with Hire Heroes USA, a separate free organization offering job-search coaching and resume help — both are legitimate, differently-named resources.

Onward to Opportunity (O2O) FREE*

A career-training program through Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), offering 30–40+ industry-recognized certification tracks in Information Technology, Business Management, and Customer Service Excellence — broader in scope than the five Google Career Certificate tracks available through SVA. Each participant is assigned a dedicated IVMF advisor and receives career coaching through IVMF's employer partnerships.

• Cost: Free for the coursework itself. Certification exam fees are covered only for participants who are currently unemployed or transitioning off active duty — employed veterans/spouses can still enroll but pay their own exam fees.
• Wait time: historically a 2–3 month waiting period to start a cohort — apply early, not when you're ready to start immediately.

Explore Onward to Opportunity →

Elite Leadership Immersions

Two short, highly selective programs worth knowing about — both are aimed specifically at veterans near separation or retirement, not typically a student several years from graduation, so timing matters more here than with the programs above.

Deloitte CORE Leadership Program

A free, roughly 2.5–3 day immersion at Deloitte University for transitioning service members and veterans, run four times a year with about 50 selected participants each cohort. Focuses on self-discovery, personal branding, and career exploration through Deloitte leaders, veteran coaches, and guest speakers.

Learn About Deloitte CORE →

Johns Hopkins Carey VET Academy

A 10-day executive-transition program at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School for retirement-eligible or recently retired senior military leaders, covering finance, sales, communication, and executive presence.

View the VET Academy →

Travis Manion Foundation: Spartan Leadership Program

A proprietary, 7-month character-based leadership program for veterans and families of the fallen, sponsored in part by Boeing. Combines virtual coursework (3–4 hours/week) with three required in-person commitments: a 4-day kickoff in Charlotte, NC, a week-long Leadership Expedition in Colorado, and a 4-day graduation event in Houston, TX. Built around a four-part framework and the "If Not Me, Then Who..." ethos.

Learn About the Spartan Leadership Program →

Which Program Fits My Goal?

Different Paths. A Stronger Future.

Different Paths. A Stronger Future.

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