Alternatives to Military Service

Before Enlisting strives to offer young people career ideas and information about funding higher education. There are many ways to earn a living, serve your country, and fund your education goals besides signing a long, legally binding contract with the military. The resources below are geared toward youth in the San Francisco Bay Area and there might be equivalent resources in your area. Several national programs are listed as well.

If you want to learn about more alternatives in other states, visit the Peaceful Career Alternatives site.

Job & Career Opportunities

Alameda County Health Pipeline Partnership

Paid internships and training in health care jobs. Academic tutoring and one-on-one mentoring.

http://www.acphd.org/pipeline.aspx

CalApprenticeship.org

In this union-sponsored building trades apprenticeship program, men and women can become skilled in a trade, and get paid to do it - "Earn While You Learn!"

http://www.calapprenticeship.org/

California Conservation Corps

Paid internships working outside to repair state parks, fight fires, and provide other important services. (Includes housing, meals, and medical care.)

http://www.ccc.ca.gov/

Hack the Hood

Under-resourced youth of color are introduced to careers in tech by hiring and training them to build websites for small businesses.

http://www.hackthehood.org

Treasure Island Job Corp

Nationwide program that places high school graduates in paid training and service programs.

https://treasureisland.jobcorps.gov/

AmeriCorps

Young adults earn money while they engage in service work and receive training. Positions available around the country.

https://www.americorps.gov/serve

Berkeley Youth Alternatives

Provides support for young adults who are “at-risk” (homeless, foster care, and similar hardships) to learn job skills and get paid job experience.

http://www.byaonline.org/programs/career-development-and-prevent-center

Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County

Building Trades Apprenticeships prepare women and men for careers in construction by integrating on-the-job training with classroom instruction.

http://www.btcalameda.org/apprenticeship-programs/

Treasure Island Job Corp

Provides paid job training in a variety of occupations. Includes housing, meals, medical care, and a paid stipend.

https://treasureisland.jobcorps.gov/

OaklandPre-Apprenticeship Program

Cypress Mandela Training Center offers a free, sixteen-week Pre-Apprenticeship program for Bay Area men and women over 18 years old.

http://cypressmandela.org/

Opportunity Build, Climate Careers

Opportunity Build is a 12-month construction training program in Oakland. Youth gain skills so they can enter an apprenticeship program or get a job. Climate Careers trains and employs youth in the "green economy”.

https://risingsunopp.org/

Tradeswomen, Inc.

Tradeswomen, Inc. is a grassroots support organization for women who are interested in working in the skilled trades. They provide pre-apprenticeship classes for women and support in getting into an apprenticeship program.

http://tradeswomen.org/

California Employment Development Department

The website has many useful links to job training programs, internships, & job placement for youth.

http://www.edd.ca.gov/jobs.htm

Civicorps

Paid internships in the East Bay for high school graduates in parks, recycling programs, construction, etc.

http://www.cvcorps.org/

YEP—Youth Employment Training Program

Paid internships and training programs, such as home construction, for low income young adults.

http://www.yep.org/

Updated September 2026

funding higher education

Updated June 2026
We evaluated the Federal resources listed below to confirm that they are still active and available. However, the current administration continues to undermine the Department of Education and the Federal Aid for Education programs so please read carefully to ensure these resources are still available. We recommend speaking with your school counselors or teachers for advice and help navigating these resources.

I Can Go to College

This program offers a wide range of financial aid options – some of which you do NOT have to repay – like qualifying for the FAFSA or CADAA grants, scholarships, and some work-study programs. Financial aid can help you pay for tuition, books, or rent.

https://icangotocollege.com

Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid remains fully available. You can apply for grants, work-study programs, and federal student loans by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the current and upcoming academic years.

http://studentaid.gov/

BigFuture

Offers tools to estimate the cost of college, how to apply for financial aid, tips for parents, and advice on where to start if you are overwhelmed.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college

UStrive

An online mentoring platform that pairs students with a mentor who can

answer questions about the college application process & scholarships.

https://www.ustrive.com/

Workforce Pell Grants

This program has recently been expanded offering job training in many different fields to high school graduates. It helps lower-income learners use the grants to pay for 2 year or 4 year college in addition to job training in fields such as nursing, phlebotomy, child care, truck-driving, welding, car repair and HVAC.

https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell/

Strategies to Help Pay for College

A list of 13 tips to plan for and pay for higher education.

https://studentloanhero.com/featured/how-to-pay-for-college-strategies-help-you/

College Greenlight

Intended for both first-generation and low-income students, you can create a free profile here, and gain access to a searchable database of more than $11 billion worth of scholarships.

https://www.appily.com/guidance/counselors/college-greenlight

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