Career Training - D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Career Training

Onward to Opportunity (O2O)


Onward to Opportunity (O2O) is a free career training program that provides professional certification and employee support services to transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. O2O combines industry-validated curricula, strong partnerships with leading veteran service organizations and private sector companies, and comprehensive career coaching services to prepare and match you with your next career.



Cover of the O2O reportLatest From IVMF:
Onward to Opportunity (O2O) Impact Evaluation

Evaluators from Penn State’s Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness conducted a rigorous quasi-experimental study utilizing propensity score matching (PSM) to compare survey response data from The Veterans Metrics Initiative (TVMI) with O2O participant data. Their analysis found that O2O has statistically validated positive impacts on post-service employment, including starting salary, and characteristics of 6-month job retention.  

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Alumni Services + Support


As a graduate or participant of one of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ programs, you are a part of an ever-growing network of IVMF alumni across the globe! As IVMF was founded at Syracuse University and is headquartered on their campus, completing an IVMF program also makes you a Syracuse University alum! This extensive network is here for you to stay connected and leverage for your professional/entrepreneurial journey.

Take advantage of resources, webinars, and a community of veterans and military spouses that share the IVMF bond through their post-service lives. Long after you complete your course or residency, you are connected to the IVMF team for follow-up resources and opportunities as your professional goals evolve. No matter if you graduated from Onward to Opportunity or one of the eight Arsenal entrepreneurship programs the Alumni Services team supports all IVMF graduates in realizing and accomplishing their professional and personal goals.

Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement


The VPPCE prepares veterans and military-connected individuals with the skills, knowledge, and tools to launch a successful and meaningful career in politics. Veterans with first-hand experience running for office, experts in the field, and esteemed faculty from the Maxwell School — the nation’s #1-ranked graduate school in public affairs, deliver instruction throughout our programs.

The program engages participants in different stages of their political journey in campaign topics such as fundraising, public communications, social media, identifying mentors, building your platform, and leveraging resources available to veterans, among others.

Together, we provide participants the opportunity for self-assessment and reflection. What from your military experience can you bring to your candidacy and public office? What are your areas for growth? What political office should you run for?

Become an Employer Partner


Onward to Opportunity (O2O) represents a paradigm shift in where, and when, the private sector engages the military-connected job seeker. The program provides employers with a unique opportunity to review the training curriculum that leverages these skills to ensure it aligns with their hiring needs. O2O also provides the nation’s employers with enhanced visibility and access to the military-connected talent pool prior to separation, allowing employers to engage with military-connected candidates earlier and develop a deeper understanding of the skills, capabilities, and value this population can lend to their organizations.

Fund + Support O2O


O2O was launched in partnership with the Schultz Family Foundation (SFF) and as the program has grown, other supporters and partners have joined in this effort to make a sustainable and long-term impact among the military-connected community as they transition to civilian life.

Onward to opportunity graduate

“Anyone I know that has transitioned or is getting ready to transition, I’m a big advocate for Onward to Opportunity. It’s been great for me, and I’ve seen it work not just for me – I’ve seen the people to the left of me and to the right of me in my cohort getting jobs.”

Military installation: Fort Bragg, NC
SAS Programming 1 & 2 Graduate
Geospatial Intelligence Instructor, BAE Systems

Zekenyia Simmons

Chief Warrant Officer 2, US Army