An alliance, not a logo wall.
The long-term proposal is to invite employers to renew commitments to paid placements, supervised projects, and mentorship. No partners or sponsors are confirmed.
For Saddleback-area student veterans
Your service brought you here.
Let’s open a door to what’s next.
Working Party is a student-led effort to help student veterans find a path from military experience and college into civilian work. We’re developing a proposal for real, paid, supervised opportunities—not advertising open jobs or fellowships.
Independent student organization; not officially affiliated with or endorsed by Saddleback College. The initiative is a proposal, subject to future approvals, funding, and employer commitments.
01
One clear focus:
student veterans’ next step.
Primary audience / student veterans
Looking for a way into civilian work?
The First Door Fellowship is a proposed pilot, not an open application. While Working Party develops the idea, students who need current campus veteran support can contact Saddleback’s VETS Program directly.
Visit Saddleback VETS for current support ↗This link is to Saddleback College’s official VETS service. It is not an application to Working Party or the proposed fellowship.
Secondary audience / employers
Have real work a veteran could do?
The proposed model is a paid project, a named supervisor, clear expectations, and useful feedback. This site has no employer intake or commitment form; no employer participation is confirmed.
See the proposed placement model ↓Standards for the proposal
These are goals—not active placements or services.
01 /Paid work. Real supervision.
02 /Fair access. No pay-to-play.
03 /Continuity beyond one founder.
The shift / opportunities first
Don’t just prepare students.
Open doors for them.
The idea is to start by seeking employer commitments, then build a supported pathway to reach them. If pursued, it should complement existing campus services—not duplicate them. No college process or partnership is approved through this proposal.
01 / Proposed pilot—not open
The First Door Fellowship
The founding idea is up to six paid, project-based opportunities: eight to twelve weeks of real work, a professional mentor, and a tangible accomplishment students can take into their next interview. No placements are currently available or confirmed.
- Commit: A paid role, named supervisor, and clear deliverable.
- Match: Published qualifications and a fair selection process, if approved by the appropriate partners.
- Build: Supervised work, progress reviews, and documented experience.
Meaningful experience is the goal. A permanent job is not guaranteed.
Example only / not an open role
Operations & Data Fellowship
Analyze a warehouse receiving process, build a dashboard, and present recommendations to management.
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Schedule
- 12 hours / week
- Hourly pay
- $25
- Gross student wages
- $3,000
At these illustrative assumptions, six placements would total $18,000 in gross wages plus payroll costs. No employer has committed these wages; reimbursement or other funding is not confirmed.
Remove the last practical barrier.
The proposed Opportunity Bridge would coordinate approved support for transport, equipment, or care-related costs when existing campus resources leave a gap. Private records stay with authorized administrators.
Keep momentum after transfer.
An alumni and industry mentor pathway would help students connect their next degree to portfolio projects, professional networks, and future opportunities.
Make it bigger than one term.
A renewable college compact is a proposed idea only. Any responsibilities for placements, funding, or oversight require institutional review and approval.
If the idea moves forward / first 100 days
Test the need before promising a placement.
A proposed feasibility phase would listen to student veterans, check what current services already cover, and explore whether employers can offer paid, supervised work. These are suggested milestones—not an active college process or guaranteed timeline.
Find current support through Saddleback VETS ↗Working Party has no live application or contact form. This proposal is independent and is not an approved Saddleback College program.
Supporting roles, if the proposal advances
College staff
Could advise on existing services, approvals, and safe administration.
Alumni
Could inform a future transfer and mentorship pathway.
Donors
Funding needs and any fundraising would require an approved plan and authorized administrator. No funding is secured or being solicited here.
If piloted, prove the value with evidence. Build permanence from there.