HOST ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE:
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DEDICATED MENTORFor the duration of the fellowship, the mentor will serve as the primary point of contact and coach. The mentor should hold a senior-level position in the organization and schedule a weekly or biweekly feedback session for the fellow to ask questions, have their resume reviewed, and seek career advice. Learn more in this article about the impact that a host organization had on a fellow.
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SALARY AND BENEFITSHost communities incur no financial costs for hosting a veteran fellow because the veteran is still on active military service and receives full pay and benefits from the military while participating in the fellowship as part of the transition from service.
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ICMA PROVIDES:
RECRUITMENT AND SCREENINGICMA staff will recruit and screen all applicants for the program
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTFellows are expected to participate in several scheduled professional development calls with ICMA throughout their fellowship. Along with access to ICMA’s free coaching resources, fellows receive complimentary registration to the ICMA Annual Conference, and access to the local government 101/201 certificate. They are also granted free access to ICMA’s Management Assessment and a free subscription to PM magazine.
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ICMA MEMBERSHIPFellows receive a complimentary 2-year membership to ICMA with access to all qualifying member benefits.
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Host Community Flyer
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the host community required to offer employment after the fellowship?
A. No, the service member may apply for and compete for positions with the local government, as well as apply for jobs with any other local government they choose.
Q. Is the host community required to sign a contract to participate?
A. No, the host community is not required to sign a contract and is done voluntarily on a cohort to cohort basis.
Q. How often will I be asked to host a veteran?
A. It varies from cohort to cohort based on the number of applicants. This means that a host community may be asked to host a veteran for one cohort per year or up to three cohorts a year. But the community should only take on as many fellows as it has capacity for work and mentorship. Communities may also take a break between cohorts, or be a continuous host.
Q. What if my community is not near a military installation?
A. Some service members conduct their fellowships on a permissive temporary duty status (PTDY), meaning they can work way from their installation. Adding your community to the program partners page of this website will let veterans know that you would like to host a veteran. We have placed several veterans in different states; some veterans have family or friends in an area or want to return home.
Q. Who decides what projects the service member will be doing?
A. The projects are decided by the host community with the service member to meet the objectives of both parties.
Q. I'm ready - how do I sign-up to host?
A. Email rguest@icma.org and note that you'd like to be considered as a VLGMF host, and when you're ready to begin. In the coming months, we'll have an online form you can complete to help us gather the information.
In addition to training and professional development opportunities that will be provided by each local government sponsor, ICMA will provide the opportunity for Fellows to complete the ICMA Local Government 101 Certificate.
The Local Government 101 certificate provides training to local government professionals in those essential skills and practices that are the foundation of becoming an effective local government manager.
- Leadership
- Management
- Service Delivery
- Budgeting
- Human Resources
What is Local Government 101?
This interactive online certificate program immerses you in the unique challenges that confront the local government manager today. Taught by experienced managers and local government experts, it is designed to impart real-life experience, best practices, and sound advice in the areas most important to a manager’s day-to-day role.
Gain Your Competitive Edge
Local Government 101 helps new and mid-career managers, assistant managers, and even career-changers new to local government gain a competitive edge in leading their communities and advancing their careers. This five-course, 15-session program provides the basic skills you need to do an outstanding job for your community and make yourself marketable in the increasingly competitive field of local government management.
Choose Your Learning Track
There are two learning tracks available so you may choose the one that best suits your needs:
Track 1: Local Government Fundamentals Plus Equity and Inclusion
15 90-minute modules
- Course 1: Effective Local Government Manager (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 2: Equity and Inclusion (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 3: Human Resources and Staff Effectiveness (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 4: Managing Local Government Services (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 5: Becoming an Effective Leader (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
Track 2: Local Government Fundamentals Plus Disaster Preparedness
- Course 1: Effective Local Government Manager (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 2: Disaster Preparedness (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 3: Human Resources and Staff Effectiveness (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 4: Managing Local Government Services (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
- Course 5: Becoming an Effective Leader (3 on demand modules/90 minutes each)
FELLOWS RECEIVE:
DEDICATED MENTORFor the duration of the fellowship, your mentor will serve as your primary point of contact and coach. This may include monthly Luncheons or weekly feedback sessions to ask questions and seek career advice.
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Veterans Who Currently Serve or Served as Local Government Managers (Mentors).
Please contact these mentors if you have general questions regarding the profession of local government management or questions regarding transitioning into the profession from the military.
- Darrin Tangeman,City Manager, Woodland Park, Colorado
- Email: dtangeman@city-woodlandpark.org
- Peter Troedsson, City Manager, Albany, Oregon
- Email: PTroedsson@gmail.com
- Nole Hopkins, Fleet Manager, El Paso County, Colorado
- Email: nole.hopkins@gmail.com
- Don Davis, County Manager, Jefferson County, Colorado
- Email: dodavis@jeffco.us
- George Sugars, Retired County Manager, Fremont County, Colorado
- Email: gsugars@comcast.net
- Dick Eason, City Manager In Transition, Greater Denver Area, Colorado
- Email: dick.eason@lycos.com
The Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship is a 12-to-25-week Department of Defense SkillBridge Program that provides transitioning service members with management training and hands-on experience in the local government environment to prepare them for smooth transitions into local government careers. This program will match eligible and selected fellows with surrounding local government sponsors based on skills, education, experience, and the preferences of both parties.
NOTICE: THE VLGMF PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE THOSE VETERANS SEEKING A CAREER IN PROFESSIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT AND NOT FOR ANY POLITICAL OFFICE.
To qualify, you must be a service member/veteran/spouse who:
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If active duty must be within 180 days of transition out of military service.
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Holds a bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of leadership experience (or equivalent related experience) OR
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Holds an associate’s degree with 5+ years of leadership experience (or equivalent related experience) OR
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Is enrolled and has the intent to complete a bachelor’s degree in the next 3 years.
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Has a strong interest in serving in local government management.
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Possesses one or more of the following areas of experience that are relevant to local government management: international local government experience, public affairs, information operations and public relations, engineering, public works, utilities, human resources, procurement and contract management, public policy analysis, law enforcement, information technology, fire or EMS services, public finance, strategic management, parks and recreation, project or program management, economic development, fleet/facilities management, and business or public administration.
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If active duty, has command approval (first O5 if staying local) to participate with signed memorandum or installation approval form
ICMA Benefits:
Those individuals placed in a VLGMF host community receive the following complimentary benefits:
- ICMA membership for two years.
- Registration to one ICMA Annual Conference.
- Registration to one ICMA Regional Conference.
- ICMA's Management Assessment.
- Subscription to PM magazine.
- Local Government 101 Certificate.
Related Content:
Local Government Management: A Career Overview
Careers in Local Government Management
Choosing a Career in Local Government
Why Consider a Career in Local Government?
Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship Briefing
Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship Work Plan.
Questions? Contact ICMA at veterans@icma.org.
DISCLAIMER: THE VLGMF PROGRAM IS A DOD APPROVED SKILLBRIDGE ORGANIZATION, BUT IT IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY.

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The placement process for the fellowship takes into account the fellow's needs and goals, with a goal of accommodating the location and skill requirements of the fellow. The application remains open throughout the year and placement is based on the fellow's transition timeline. The list of sponsoring municipalities and local governments can be found on our host locations website but we are not limited to these locations. Reach out if you do not see a municipality in your region of choice. If you do not meet the education requirements or you have questions, contact 202-962-3551 or veterans@icma.org.
VLGMF Application Document Requirements
- Completed online NEOGOV application.
- Resume.
- Cover letter.
- Signed memorandum of participation or an Air Force Virtual Education Center approval letter.
- Unoffiical transcripts.
APPLY TO BE A VLGMF FELLOW

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