Veterans of the United States military looking for a post-service career have several compelling reasons to consider the IT field. The first, of course, is the advanced technology that exists within the military, and the access that military personnel have to that technology. In the Army alone, there are 27 different computer and technology positions available to new recruits.
After basic training, Army personnel can train for computer and detection systems repair, cyber network defense, information technology operations, satellite communications system operations, and a great number of other positions that prepare them for the work being done in the IT field today.
For those working in military positions directly related to information technology or similar fields, making the transition to a post-military IT career makes perfect sense. Not only do the skill sets cultivated through four years in military technology look great on a resume, they also translate into a wide spectrum of specialized IT jobs—provided those with the skills to do IT get the right certification.
In the CyberTex Institute of Technology’s Network Engineer program, for instance, instructors focus on industry standard certifications like A+, Security+, Linux+, Network+, and Microsoft certifications.
But even those who don’t directly work in IT fields during their time in the service have the experience and the qualities that helps people succeed in IT fields. To work well in IT, it takes the ability to be part of a team yet to be a reliable individual member of that team, attention to detail, discipline, and a sound work ethic. Those, of course, are also qualities that are first emphasized in Basic Training and are then honed throughout the span of military service.
The reason that those qualities are so important in IT is because of the nature of the work. In IT, though people and people skills do factor into some of the work, the work is ultimately about what a computer or a network needs in order to function. If a line of code has just one character out of place, the code won’t work like it’s supposed to work—and networks can be just as unforgiving as the languages that machines use. One connection out of place can disable an entire system that people rely on for any number of important tasks they fulfill.
Military professionals have a drive toward detail, completeness, and reliability that help define them differently from civilians—and it’s a reason that military professionals are sought for a variety of positions where those qualities are particularly desirable. When looking for employees who will succeed, a number of employers look to see if a military history is on a prospective hire’s resume because of the existence of those qualities.
Military veterans are also used to learning new skills quickly. In a number of situations—even routine situations—military personnel are expected to learn new skills or new facets of their jobs within a number of weeks. The rapid pace of learning is not only a necessity—it’s tested in real-life situations.
It’s no wonder, then, that many military personnel in Central Texas—especially those with Fort Hood ties—find that the Cybertex Network Engineer program is such a good fit. The 45 week course allows former military personnel to take classes at a pace that’s familiar to them, utilizing skill sets that they’ve cultivated, and building upon traits and characteristics that they already possess.
And, what’s more, it prepares people with the tools to succeed in IT to actually succeed in IT. For those military personnel who finished their service at Fort Hood and want to stay in Central Texas, IT is the perfect career for staying in the region. That’s why CyberTex has two campuses—one, located in Austin, to provide training in the city that thousands of tech workers call home, and one, located in Killeen, close to Fort Hood and its military community. From either campus, it’s possible to be fully certified in just 45 weeks.
