The Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program exists to solve a specific problem: service members often leave the military with strong technical skills but limited civilian work history. At HX5, CEO Margarita Howard has built a consistent pipeline around that program since 2021.
Each year, HX5 brings on two fellows through the twelve-week Department of Defense SkillBridge initiative, hosting eight total so far. Fellows work four days a week on hands-on projects and spend one day on professional development, all while still on active duty and receiving military pay and benefits.
Preparing for the Business Side
Howard notes that fellows often understand military operations well but may know little about procurement processes or contract structures, the administrative machinery that governs how contractors work with government agencies. The fellowship’s professional development component, covering topics like corporate communication, aims to close that gap before fellows commit to a full-time role.
“My background was influenced by military service,” Margarita Howard says, describing why she prioritizes giving fellows a realistic picture of contracting life rather than a purely technical placement.
Small Numbers, Sustained Commitment
Nationally, the fellowship program has produced more than 500 graduates since 2015, with an 80 percent hire rate and average starting salaries around $70,000. HX5‘s eight fellows represent a modest slice of that total, reflecting the realities of a company with roughly 1,000 employees compared with giants like Lockheed Martin or Amazon.
For Margarita Howard, the smaller scale is not a limitation. It allows HX5 to integrate each fellow carefully, building toward the kind of long-term hires that keep the company’s veteran workforce steady year after year.
Howard also points to the fellowship’s timing as an advantage. Because fellows arrive during their final 180 days of active duty, HX5 gets a firsthand look at how each person handles real project work well before extending a full-time offer. That trial period benefits both sides, giving fellows a genuine sense of contractor life and giving HX5 a clearer read on which candidates are likely to thrive once their fellowship ends. Read this article for additional information.
Find more information about Margarita Howard on https://homebusinessmag.com/success-stories-lifestyles/defense-contractors-margarita-howard-adapts-gen-z-amid-competition-stem-talent/