Oʻahu Students Target $6,000 Military Internships Before Deadline

Oʻahu college students have a unique opportunity to apply for paid summer internships within military commands, but the application deadline is approaching rapidly. The VICEROY MAVEN program, sponsored by the Pacific Intelligence & Innovation Initiative (P3I), offers an eight-week internship from June 15 to August 8, 2026. Participants can earn approximately $6,000 while gaining experience with security-clearance procedures.

The internship allows students to work in teams on mission-driven challenges, culminating in a final briefing delivered to senior military and civilian leaders. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in a college or university and must be capable of obtaining a security clearance.

According to P3I, applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. HST on November 15, 2025. Selected candidates will receive a conditional offer prior to starting the security-clearance process.

Internship Experience and Requirements

Interns will collaborate with military commands and defense contractors, working under the guidance of a Command Mentor and a P3I advisor. The program includes site visits to military facilities on Oʻahu, offering participants exposure to operational technology, cybersecurity, and data analysis. A report from the Department of Defense highlights a recent visit where P3I-affiliated students toured the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, showcasing the program’s emphasis on hands-on experiences.

To apply, candidates must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, be able to secure a security clearance, and have reliable transportation to Oʻahu military bases. The application package requires a resume, a transcript, and a one-page personal statement. P3I advises that the online application process takes between 25 and 35 minutes, with applicants being contacted in November or December. Successful candidates will receive conditional offers in January 2026, after which they will begin the security-clearance process.

Impact and Future Opportunities

The VICEROY MAVEN program partners with major defense organizations, including USINDOPACOM, U.S. Army Pacific, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, and the National Security Agency. Since its inception in 2023, P3I has successfully placed over 300 students into various roles. Jason Chung from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii emphasized that the VICEROY MAVEN program is expanding opportunities for Hawaiian talent to cultivate technical and leadership skills, benefiting both state readiness and local economic development.

Local workforce leaders indicate that this initiative is part of a broader effort to create sustainable career pathways that retain young talent in the islands. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has highlighted that programs like P3I connect classroom learning to paid internships in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, data science, and electronic warfare. This approach aims to mitigate the out-migration of graduates, a trend often attributed to the high cost of living and limited job opportunities in Hawaii.

Students interested in the VICEROY MAVEN internship should prepare their application materials—resume, transcript, and personal statement—before the rapidly approaching deadline of November 15. Conditional offers will be communicated in January 2026, with successful candidates expected to engage in the full internship experience on Oʻahu the following summer.