IT Training for Veterans

Are you a veteran returning to civilian life or a member of a veteran’s family aiming to avail yourself of entitlements and benefits? This article is designed to help you navigate your options for taking advantage of these services to enter into a professional skills training program and learn the IT skills you’ve always wanted to learn. 

What is IT?

The field of information technology (commonly referred to as IT) involves working with the computer systems, hardware, software, and networks related to the processing and distribution of data. The umbrella of IT also encompasses things like networking hardware (servers and routers) and applications that allow communication over a variety of networks and the internet. 

The term “information technology” was first used in a 1958 publication of the Harvard Business Review, which divided IT into the following three categories: techniques for processing, the use of statistical and mathematical methods to make decisions, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through computer programs. Businesses devote entire departments to information technology, assembling teams to handle these tasks. 

Data processing plays a significant role in a variety of business practices, including product development and design, marketing and market research, sales and invoicing, customer development and retention, accounting and taxes, human resources and payroll, and regulatory compliance. IT has become an essential part of nearly every modern industry, so it is a wise choice to become an expert in information technology.

What Can You Do with IT Skills?

Learning IT can be useful in many ways, both professionally and personally. If you currently work in an adjacent or similar field, learning IT can help you develop new skills that can either advance your current career or help you launch a new one. On a personal level, you could use your IT savvy to troubleshoot your own computer and networking problems or create custom systems, networks, or computer programs. 

Support for Veterans

If you are a veteran looking for your next professional path, there are resources available to help you pursue further education. Signed into law in 1944, the GI Bill is a federal program that helps veterans and their families pay for education and training, including college and university tuition, online and part-time schooling, licensing and certification courses, vocational training and trade school, and entrepreneurship training. 

Benefits of the original GI Bill may expire depending on when the veteran was discharged from active duty, but that’s where the Forever GI Bill comes in. If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001 and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged veteran or were discharged with a service- connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program.

The GI Bill and the Forever GI Bill provides qualified veterans and their eligible dependents with financial assistance for tuition and fees, housing and living expenses (if you’re in school more than half-time), and money for books and supplies. 

Noble Desktop’s in-person courses at their Manhattan location are eligible for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). You may even be eligible for housing benefits, but it's recommended you reach out to the VA to confirm your eligibility or for any questions about the status of your benefits.

Why Learn IT

Pursuing professional training in information technology has several benefits. Most IT bootcamps, trainings, or certificates are recognized credentials within the field. They signify your dedication, motivation, and proficiency in the subject. Preparations for attending, the work created during your training, and the fees to attend cost time and money, further confirming your commitment to the field. 

Being able to prove your dedication and proficiency can help you stand out from other job applicants. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be around 377,500 job openings in IT each year from now until 2032. And, with the median salary sitting well above the national average at $100,000, you can expect a healthy salary in most of these open roles. 

It is fairly common for companies to require ongoing training, especially within the field of information technology. If you currently work in IT and want a promotion, enrolling in a course can be a great way to prove you deserve that higher-paying, higher-ranking job. Cisco’s recertification requirements, for example, include earning continuing education credits, taking an exam, or attending training during each three-year cycle. If your employer makes ongoing training mandatory, there’s a high probability they will help pay for it, so make sure to check with them before enrolling.

IT professionals often have the added benefit of being able to work from anywhere they choose. Online work offers more flexibility for IT experts, allowing you to assist fellow employees or clients via email, video chat, or by taking over their desktops. You’re no longer tied to living in cities with high living costs and are often only required to work within a specific time zone. 

High pay, ample career opportunities, and the ability to choose where you work are only a handful of the perks of working in information technology. Becoming an expert in IT is the quickest way to make your dream career a reality. Keep reading to discover more about what you’ll learn in a training program and how to choose the right certification for you.

Why Choose a Skills Bootcamp?

Bootcamps are typically held live either in-person or virtually and allow for in-the-moment discourse with an expert instructor. If you’re struggling with a particular subject, you can ask questions and receive feedback instantly. Additionally, live bootcamps offer a level of accountability that many students say they need to succeed. Scheduled class times and assignment due dates motivate you to stay on track. 

These courses tend to be shorter (a few hours to a few days) and cost less than a certificate program, in part due to how they primarily focus on one skill or tool, as opposed to an entire subject. 

Learn IT at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate prepares you for entry-level data science and Python engineering roles. You’ll learn how to manipulate databases and perform data analysis, read and write complex database queries, prepare and clean data for analysis, and use Python to automate everyday tasks such as aggregating, updating, and formatting data. This course also covers how to clean and balance your data with Pandas, apply machine learning algorithms with the scikit-learn library to solve real-world problems, and analyze the results to detect areas for improvement. Finally, you’ll build and present dynamic dashboards and other data visualizations and deploy your projects online with GitHub to demonstrate your analytical abilities to employers.

Their Software Engineering Certificate is another option for aspiring IT students. Divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development, you will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.

By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.

Or, you could try your hand at Noble’s Python Developer Bootcamp. This three-week online course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python, including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST. 

It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.