From Service to Success: Taylor Jones Finds New Mission with CBP

For many service members, the transition from military life to the civilian workforce is a significant milestone. For Taylor Jones, that journey led her to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where she has found a new mission that values her experience, encourages her growth, and provides the stability she needed. 

Focused on the Future  

Jones’s path to service began with a clear vision for her future. She wanted to set herself up for long-term success. By joining the military, she gained access to educational benefits that allowed her to pursue her academic goals without the burden of debt. Beyond the classroom, her time in uniform provided a foundation for her personal and professional life. During her service, Jones was able to purchase a home, launch a business, and gain invaluable real-world experience that would eventually serve as the bedrock for her civilian career.

Reflecting on her time in the military, Jones highlights one lesson that remains a cornerstone of her professional philosophy: "Trust but verify."

"It is vital that you look into things closely to make sure you don't have a single point of failure due to simple miscommunication," Jones explained. This attention to detail, honed through military training and discipline, has proven to be an asset in her current role at CBP.

A Smooth Transition to Federal Service

As her time in the military drew to a close, Jones faced a pivotal decision regarding reenlistment. Ultimately, her desire for greater stability for her expanding family led her to explore new horizons. This search for a career that offered both purpose and a sustainable work-life balance brought her to the CBP Department of War (DoW) SkillBridge program.

Since joining the agency, Jones has found a welcoming environment that effectively trains employees and helps when needed. She speaks highly of her colleagues and notes that her supervisors are genuinely invested in her professional development.

"CBP has been wonderful," Jones said. "I can’t really ask for more. I enjoy my coworkers; everyone was helpful and nice.”

While she has embraced her new role, Jones admits there are aspects of military life she still misses — specifically the rigid structure, “you know where you have to be at all times.” However, she has found that CBP offers its vast array of opportunities, giving her options to explore and achieve what she really wants in her career.  

Jones is particularly enthusiastic about her leadership’s reception to feedback, stating, “the branch that I’m on now, it’s very open to criticism and change. We are constantly updating processes, making things more streamlined, smooth and straightforward — not just for us but for the organization as a whole.” Additionally, she appreciates the opportunities to support the division in different ways. “So many opportunities come up. I’m getting to go to a Family Outreach Event next month. It will be a fun experience for me.”

"There are so many different positions and opportunities available here," Jones said. "I feel like I have plenty of room to develop my career, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me."

For Jones, her journey demonstrates that transitioning from one mission to the next does not mean leaving lessons behind. Instead, it has been a successful evolution, allowing her to continue serving her country while building a stable, fulfilling future for her family.

SkillBridge at CBP: Where to Start

CBP is a federal government leader in DoW SkillBridge internship opportunities, offering placements nationwide in a variety of GS-7 through GS-14 roles, including Intelligence Research Specialists, HR Specialists, Management Analysts, Paralegal Specialists, and more.

The SkillBridge program can give transitioning service members an important advantage: completing a CBP background investigation before the internship begins.

That matters because CBP SkillBridge interns complete the background investigation process before they start, allowing them to obtain the system access needed to perform their assigned duties. By comparison, individuals hired through USAJOBS typically complete the background investigation after selection. For SkillBridge interns, completing this step early can help support a smoother transition to post-military employment.

CBP may also assist SkillBridge interns with hiring pathways outside of USAJOBS for their internship role, if the host office is able to bring them on board, or for other roles within the agency.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career through the DoW SkillBridge program, contact Jeff Jack at Jeffrey.R.Jack@cbp.dhs.gov.

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