Are you interested in learning about business, building a strong community and rediscovering purpose for moving forward?

The Dog Tag Fellowship Program, funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, combines equal parts classroom, bakery, community and well-being. Dog Tag fellows earn a certificate in business administration in a virtual classroom space; bring their coursework to life by learning the ins and outs of running a successful small business in the program’s Dog Tag Bakery, including financing and fundraising; build community with each other; and enhance their well-being by committing time to introspection and personal growth.

• Improve your transition from the military to civilian life.
• Earn a certificate in business administration.
• Apply for the Dog Tag Fellowship Program.

The Dog Tag Bakery Fellowship Program’s bakery serves as a living business school for fellows to learn about entrepreneurship and business development.

Fellows are also equipped with the tools and education to build resilience, find renewed purpose and forge community beyond the military. The program serves as a bridge from military service to the civilian world, and it acts as a catalyst for finding direction and moving forward.

The Dog Tag Fellowship Program, which was founded in 2014, is open to post-9/11 Veterans with VA service-connected disabilities, military spouses, military caregivers, active service members in transition, and National Guard and Reserve members.

During the five-month program, Dog Tag fellows explore a variety of career paths, learn about resources available to them, and strengthen their personal and professional networks as they develop strategic plans for plausible business ideas and their own futures. All fellows receive a monthly stipend, and every program-related expense is covered. Fellows do not need to use the GI Bill or other military benefits to participate.

Fellows spend Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST in a fellowship aligned with one of the program’s curricular areas.

• Education: courses toward earning a certificate in business at either Georgetown University in Washington or Loyola University of Chicago;
• Finding Your Voice: a storytelling course designed to build confidence, as fellows reflect on where they came from and where they want to go;
• Wellness: time for integrated health and wellness techniques and reflection;
• Rotations: hands-on learning through the program’s small business Dog Tag Bakery;
• Learning Labs: networking opportunities with guest speakers, business leaders and entrepreneurs;
• Capstone: a workshop to build a business plan to be pitched at the end of the fellowship.

The fellowship, which has been virtual since the COVID pandemic began in 2020, operates in two cycles: the winter cohort from January to May and the summer cohort from July to November. The D.C. fellowship accepts 16 people in each cohort. The Chicago fellowship is admitting 10 people per cohort, with plans to grow. Program officials expect 10 to 16 fellows in each city for the 2023 winter and summer cohorts.

Apply for the Dog Tag Fellowship Program.

The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.