The House and Senate fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Conference report includes language that seeks to encourage separating service members to pursue a career in the trades. Specifically, the report encourages the Department of Defense to facilitate pathways for separating service members to secure quality employment prior to the day they exit service. To support this, the report suggests that DOD should examine skilled-trade and training programs that begin pre-separation in partnership with trade unions, industry apprenticeship programs, private companies or available workforce development programs. In particular, the report recommends focusing skilled labor to support the DOD’s workforce needs, including military construction, shipyards, aviation and maintenance.