SkillBridge Internships - Active Duty Military Only

SKILLBRIDGE INTERNSHIP POSITION DESCRIPTIONS - Multiple positions

Transitioning out of the military and into a civilian career?

SkillBridge opportunities are only for active-duty military service members.

Position Description – Park Ranger Intern

This is an exciting opportunity to experience a range of park management duties. As an entry-level generalist position, the specific duties of the position will be determined by season and work priorities at the time of hire.

Duties may be related to Interpretation, with visitor contact at preserve visitor centers or popular visitation sites. The intern will be trained in general interpretive principle and will also learn about a variety of topics in order to answer questions about the principles of responsible recreation and Leave No Trace, itinerary planning through answering questions about places to visit and things to do in the preserve, as well as the rules and regulations pertaining to activities such as camping. The intern may also be required to assist visitors with lost and found articles, give information about safe travel and hazards in the desert, and other similar concerns.

Depending on needs of preserve at time of appointment, the intern could also be assigned to duties in Resource Management or Visitor and Resource Protection.

In Resource Management, these activities include basic resource monitoring, identifying and reporting resource damage, and assisting with recording, entering, and analyzing data.

In the preserve’s Visitor and Resource Protection division, work may involve patrol of backcountry roads, contact with visitors to encourage compliance with preserve regulations and policies, help with minor car trouble (e.g., using a radio to call for assistance) and observing and maintain records of road and resource conditions. To support these activities, training will also be provided in off-road driving, use of radio communications, and GPS navigation.

The preserve is a remote area and with an arid desert climate. Work typically takes place far from amenities. The intern maybe be subject to harsh weather conditions such as high temperatures occasionally including cold, high winds or windstorms, rain including late summer monsoons, snow (rare), depending on the season. Housing is available in the preserve.

Position Description – Maintenance Intern

This is a general maintenance position in which the intern will perform simple and routine work involved in the maintenance of grounds, maintenance and simple repair of buildings (interior and exterior) and related utilities. Work is likely to require the use of a variety tools and help the intern build skills related to occupations such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical, cement work, painting, and other trades. The intern would likely gain experience working on both historic and modern buildings and might also work on water (delivery and treatment) and HVAC systems. The intern will be required to drive a truck to deliver tools, supplies and equipment to and from work sites, use hand and power tools for repair and installation, and may do some painting on the interior or exterior of buildings. The preserve will provide training to support this work.

The position requires a commitment to safety, ability to follow instructions and with others as well as independently. The preserve is a remote area and with an arid desert climate. Work typically takes place far from amenities. The intern maybe be subject to harsh weather conditions occasionally including cold, wind/windstorms, rain including late summer monsoons, snow (rare), and high temperatures depending on the

Position Description – Engineering Equipment Operator Intern

The Engineering equipment operator internship is a great opportunity to gain experience operating heavy equipment commonly used in construction and road work. In this position, the SkillBridge intern will have opportunities to learn how to operate large vehicles such as front-end loaders and road graders well as how to

service them. Park staff will help the intern learn how to drive these vehicles often on rough unpaved roads, load them on and off trailers, and use them to repair road surfaces, maintain and install drainage, and remove accumulated sand and rock debris. The intern will also learn to learn what to look for during routine inspections to keep equipment running safely and smoothly, how to trouble-shoot problems, and perform basic preventive maintenance.

This position requires a commitment to safety, ability to follow instructions and with others as well as independently. The preserve is a remote area and with an arid desert climate. Work typically takes place far from amenities. The intern maybe be subject to harsh weather conditions occasionally including cold, wind/windstorms, rain including late summer monsoons, snow (rare), and high temperatures depending on the season. To support safety, the intern will also receive training in radio communications, off-road driving techniques, and GPS navigation. The position does not require a commercial drivers’ license.

Position Description – Administrative Assistant Intern

The Administrative Assistant internship is a great way to get started with the systems and procedures that keep the preserve running. The internship will provide opportunities to work in a variety of business/business support functions and is a gateway to work in fields such as HR, budget, and other similar positions. The intern will perform a wide variety of administrative support and clerical tasks related to human resources, budget, acquisition and property management, and travel paperwork, fleet management, and other administrative support services such as preparing correspondence and sorting and distributing mail. These tasks will provide the intern with an opportunity to learn several National Park Service computer systems to manage and track information and keep data current.

The intern will work closely with and support the park’s Administrative Officer and Superintendent as well as other staff as needed.

This position requires attention to detail and flexibility as priorities often shift depending on preserve needs. The intern will be based in our headquarters office in Barstow, CA.