For Cynthia R. Avilla, service has always been about creating opportunities for others. After more than 23 years in the U.S. Army, where she built a distinguished career in human resources and senior-level leadership support, Avilla found a new way to continue serving through the Department of War SkillBridge program with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Today, she serves as a CBP National Recruitment Division front-line recruiter at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, helping connect transitioning service members, veterans, and other qualified candidates with careers that support the agency's homeland security mission.

A Career Shaped by Service

Born in the U.S. territory of Guam, Avilla began her military journey in 2002, when she enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a human resources specialist. She later entered the Active Guard Reserve program, beginning what would become a remarkable career spanning more than two decades of leadership, mentorship, and service.

Throughout her career, Avilla served in a variety of demanding assignments, but one experience stands above the rest. "The highlight of my Army career was serving at the Pentagon," Avilla said.

During two separate tours at the Pentagon, she supported some of the Army's highest levels of leadership. As the senior human resources noncommissioned officer supporting a three-star general within the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, she coordinated executive-level personnel actions and facilitated communication among senior Army leaders, general officer-led directorates, and organizations comprising more than 1,500 military and civilian personnel.

As retirement approached, Avilla began searching for opportunities that would allow her to continue applying her human resources expertise while serving another mission-driven organization. She discovered the DoW SkillBridge program through LinkedIn, where she connected with Jeff Jack of CBP's Veterans Employment Program.

"What caught my attention was that CBP is very pro-veteran and pro-military," Avilla said. "Jeff, a Navy veteran, was welcoming, friendly, and informative. The opportunities he shared motivated me to reach out and connect."

That connection proved to be the beginning of her successful transition into federal civilian service.

A SkillBridge Internship Introduces New Opportunities

During her SkillBridge internship, Avilla served as a management and program analyst within the Human Resources Staffing Branch, Mission Readiness Directorate, Office of Trade, in Washington, D.C. Her primary responsibility was managing and facilitating new employee onboarding while gaining a comprehensive understanding of CBP's human resources operations.

Drawing on more than two decades of Army human resources experience, Avilla quickly became a valuable member of the team.

"It was not much different from being in the military because I was able to apply everything I learned as a human resources specialist in the Army to my day-to-day responsibilities," she said.

Recognizing an opportunity to improve organizational processes, Avilla also developed the Human Resources Staffing Branch's first standard operating procedure, providing employees with a structured reference for onboarding and staffing operations.

Although leadership within CBP's Mission Readiness Directorate expressed interest in hiring Avilla immediately following her internship, a hiring freeze temporarily delayed that opportunity. Rather than becoming discouraged, she remained connected with the professional network she had built during her internship.

Several months later, Jack shared an opportunity for a human resources specialist/recruiter role within NRD. "Since my Army background included both human resources and recruiting," Avilla recalled, "Jeff was elated to refer me for consideration."

Following the interview process, she accepted her current position as a CBP NRD front-line recruiter assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Writing the Next Chapter at CBP

Today, Avilla draws on both her military experience and SkillBridge journey while helping applicants explore careers with CBP.

"My advice is simple - get your résumé ready," she said. "Keep it to two pages or less. The key is impact over length. Highlight your most relevant experience, use strong, results-focused language, and tailor it to the position you're applying for."

She also encourages transitioning service members to view the DoW SkillBridge program as more than just an internship.

"SkillBridge is a great way to transition from the military into the civilian workforce," Avilla said. "It gets your foot in the door while allowing you to demonstrate your skills and build professional relationships."

After retiring from the Army on April 1, 2025, with more than 23 years of honorable service, Avilla proudly carries forward the values that defined her military career at CBP.

"It was always 'Army Strong' and 'Army Pride,'" she said with a smile. "Today, it's CBP Strong, CBP Pride."

What to Know Before You Apply

CBP is a federal government leader in DoW SkillBridge internship opportunities, offering placements nationwide in a variety of GS-7 through GS-14 roles, including intelligence research specialists, HR specialists, management analysts, paralegal specialists, and more.

Jack emphasizes that SkillBridge can offer transitioning service members an important advantage: a completed CBP background investigation before the internship begins.

That matters because CBP background investigations are completed before SkillBridge interns start, allowing them to get the system access needed to perform their assigned duties. By comparison, individuals hired through USAJOBS typically complete the background investigation after selection. For SkillBridge interns, completing this step early can help create a smoother transition to post-military employment. Jack can also assist interns with being hired outside of USAJOBS for their internship role if the host office is able to bring them onboard, or for other roles within the agency.

If you're ready to take the next step in your career through the DoW SkillBridge program, contact Jeff Jack at [email protected].

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.

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