For military members that will be transitioning out of the military soon, committing to four years of college might not be on their immediate radar or even something they might not be interested in doing at all. But training for a post-military career that takes less than a year might be something worth pursuing.
9 Little-Known Military Transition Resources for Veterans
If that sounds interesting to you, exploring these nine resources might prove to be just what you are looking at doing for a civilian career.
1. COOL
COOL is an acronym that stands for Credentialing Opportunities On-Line and is open to officers and enlisted alike. What COOL does is to convert military training and experience to credentials that can be used to enhance civilian employment opportunities. The COOL website can be searched either by Military Occupation or by Credential.
2. USMAP
The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program, or USMAP for short, is a program where military personnel can train in an apprenticeship program and after successfully completing the program, awarded a certificate in that trade skill from the Department of Labor.
Apprenticeships are available for the branches of service Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Each branch can be searched either by MOS/Rating or by Trade. To qualify for the program, you must be an enlisted member on active duty and have a minimum of 12 month remaining on your current enlistment.
3. American College of Financial Services
For veterans, or soon to be veterans, interested in a post-military career in finance, they can train and earn certifications in the following financial fields:
- Financial Planner
- Insurance Agents and Adjusters
- Wealth Manager
- Investment Advisor
- Philanthropy Management
In addition to veterans, the program is open to active duty, Selected Reservists and spouses. For more information on this program go to their website.
4. 3 CERT Program
Sponsored by Act Now Education, this program offers eight weeks of job preparation training and assistance with writing resumes, employment workshops and job placement assistance. It also offers industry certification training in the following programs:
- CompTIA Security +
- Splunk
- Professional Scrum Master
- PMI Project Management
- Comp TIA Project
The program is open to transitioning military members, veterans, spouses and dependents. To learn more about this program, go to their website.
5. CERT2SUCCESS
Besides offering their 3 CERT program, Act Now Education also offers a more streamlined and focused program called CERT2SUCCESS. In this program students can earn certifications in:
- ISC Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- CYBERAB Certified Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Professional (CPP)
- Professional Scrum Master
- PMI Project Management Professional
- Other cloud or cybersecurity-related certifications
Like the 3 CERT program, this one is open to transitioning military members, veterans, spouses and dependents. Check out their website for more information.
6. NPOWER
This organization offers training to veterans in information technology by certifying its students in IT, cloud computing and cybersecurity. They also offer training to those still on active duty through their association with SkillBridge. As part of their program, they also offer job placement assistance after successfully completing the training. Click here to learn more about NPOWER and what they can offer you.
7. Onward to Opportunity
Hosted by Syracuse University for Veterans and Military Families, commonly known as IVMF, this training helps prepare veterans for a post-military career by offering certification programs in:
- CISSP
- Comp TIA Security +
- Comp TIA Project +
- CCNA
- PMP
If any of these certifications interest you, check them out.
8. Purdue University Northwest
Not limited to just military members or veterans, this program is open to all permanent citizens of the U.S. This program is focused more on cybersecurity certification in the following areas:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Forensics
- Comp TIA A+
- Comp TIA Linux+
- Comp TIA Security +
Click here to learn how to apply.
9. Agile for Patriots
Based out of Dallas, this organization teaches veterans and their spouses how to manage projects and acquire a certification in the project management technique called Agile. If interested in project management as a post-military career, check out this no-cost training.
Training for a post-military career does not have to be a long drawn-out process. Some of these resources can be finished while still serving in the military, so that when the time comes to separate, you are trained and ready to enter the civilian workplace.
