What No One is Talking About in IT

  At the time of writing this, I recently moved across the country and therefore my home lab is packed up. I haven’t had time or really a place to set it up, so I decided I’d write about something that has been on my mind for a while. Something I haven’t heard anyone talk about when it comes to IT.

I’ve done a lot of research into how to start a career in IT. I’ve read articles online, asked others on LinkedIn, and watched YouTubers, like Josh Madakor, Jon Good, IT Career Questions, and UnixGuy. All of them share good insights that I think are really helpful. However, (no fault of theirs) none of them mention the benefits, opportunities, or advantages that come with starting a career in IT by joining the military. I realize this isn’t the path for everyone, but it is something I wish I knew about a long time ago. When I joined the Marines I only wanted to be an infantryman, but looking back now I wish I had picked a job with more transferable skills. When I switched from Marine Corps to National Guard, I chose a job that was IT related, and have experienced many benefits as I pursue my career change. 

The first benefit of serving in the military is the experience you can gain. There are many jobs in the military that are IT related. 25B Information Technology Specialist in the Army, Information Systems Technician in the Navy, Cyber Systems Operations in the Air Force, and 0671 Data Systems Administrator in the Marines Corps. These are just a few of the military occupational specialties that are IT related, there are many others. One of the most valuable things when looking for a job in IT is experience. If you join the military and can get an IT related job, they will train you in IT. After that, you have three or four years of experience you can take into the civilian world after your obligation is over. This may sound like a huge commitment (which it is), but during that time you will be getting paid, have health insurance, have a place to live and at times have your meals provided. 

During my research, I’ve also found that having IT certifications is extremely helpful. Certifications can be expensive and may be difficult to study for on your own. Often times, if you want to prepare for a certification you have to pay for a course to teach you what you need to know for the certification. In the military, a lot of that can be handled for you. Some bases have prep classes which cost you nothing. While I was in the Marines (and still an infantryman) I took two courses for CompTIA certifications. The first was a two weeks course that helped me prepare for CompTIA A+. I really enjoyed the class, we got to take a computer apart and put it back together, crimp cables, and it was my first exposure to the command line. After that, I took a two week Network+ class that was all virtual. Although, at the time I wasn’t ready for the class or material, I could see that it was a beneficial class for others who knew more at the time. Additionally, the military has programs that pay for your certifications. For example, the Army has something called Army Ignited, which has credential assistance that pays for certifications. The website can be difficult to use, but it’s well worth it. I used Army Ignited to pay for Security+, Network+, and Project+, all at zero cost to myself. That’s over $1,000 that I saved through Army Ignited. Army Ignited will also pay for training and study materials for certifications.

Another huge benefit that I’ve used and just about everyone knows about it is the GI Bill. Service members receive the GI Bill after their service is over, as long as they weren’t discharged dishonorably. The GI Bill will cover most, if not all of tuition fees. What I think most people don’t know (I certainly didn’t) is that the GI Bill will give you $500 each semester for books. On top of that, the GI Bill will also pay you the basic housing allowance (BAH) for whatever geographical area your school is located as long as you are taking one class in person. For example, if you live in Houston, and the BAH in Houston is $1500, you receive $1500 a month. BAH is not as high if you only take online classes, in which case you get around $1000 a month. At the time of writing this, I have used my GI Bill for one semester and I had one class in person. In a few weeks, I plan to utilize my GI Bill once again with only online classes. I’ve heard time and time again that a degree is not required to work in IT, but I’ve also heard that if you can afford it, a degree isn’t a bad thing to have. If the GI Bill will cover your degree, why not get it? It can only help. 

Of course, the military isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t trade my experience in the Marine Corps for anything, but there are reasons I left and switched to the Guard. Military life can be pretty difficult. It can also be difficult to join the military because you have to go through a rigorous health evaluation. I think a large portion of the population would be disqualified. From what I’ve experienced the doctors who conduct the evaluation are looking for ways to disqualify people if they can. You have to be in shape to some degree as well. Each morning most units wake up early and conduct physical exercises. You also start at the bottom and there’s a risk you have toxic leaders over you, but the same is true for any job. There are many other reasons people wouldn’t enjoy the military, the bottom line is it isn’t for everyone. 

Overall, there are ups and downs to every path you take. I know more than most that the military isn’t the life for everyone, but if you are able it’s a good option that comes with a lot of benefits. Not only are there benefits for you, but serving is an honorable endeavor. The military has given me a lot of great experiences and skills, not only IT related but others as well. I’ve been to places in the world few others get to go and I’ve made many friends I will never forget. My advice to anyone who is thinking about joining is really be sure it is what you want, and then consider choosing a job with transferable skills to the civilian world like IT.