SQL Server 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 SQL Server skills you’ve always wanted to learn. For veterans interested in pursuing a career that works with data, SQL Server training can open many professional doors. Not only can it lead to a high-paying career, but it also can provide you with a range of relational database management skills that will improve the efficiency of the work you offer to your employer. 

What is SQL Server?

SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) created by Microsoft. The data it contains is stored in tables similar to the columns and rows in a spreadsheet. Like other RDBMS software, SQL server is built on top of structured query language (SQL), the programming language most commonly used to communicate with relational databases. This database server’s primary function is storing and retrieving data that other software applications request. This data may run on the same computer or be stored on a computer across a network.

Read more about what SQL Server is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with SQL Server Skills?

SQL Server supports core analytics, transaction process, and business intelligence operations. It is especially useful in the business sector for efficiently and safely managing a variety of business information. SQL Server can also improve the speed at which data is processed, making it easier to execute large operations. 

Another benefit to working with SQL Server is that it provides advanced performance features for encryption and transparent data compression. Users don’t need to modify programs to secure and encrypt their data. SQL Server also includes efficient management tools for permission and access controls that can secure sensitive business data.

Support for Veterans

Veterans interested in studying SQL Server can take advantage of funding and educational support provided by several organizations. The GI Bill (also known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944), was created to provide World War II veterans with benefits that could be used toward their education. The benefits currently available through the GI Bill are offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Benefits like stipends and educational grants are available to qualifying veterans, active-duty service members, and their dependents. The GI Bill covers a variety of educational and professional training, like associate and bachelor degrees, advanced degrees, and technical/vocational training. Veterans can use GI Bill benefits for certifications, licensing, correspondence training, work-study programs, and tutorial assistance.

The Forever GI Bill is another resource veterans may wish to explore. This bill, also called the Harry W. Coleman Veterans Educational Assistance Act, eliminates the previously imposed 15-year limit that veterans had for using the educational benefits they were entitled to. Because the Forever GI Bill doesn’t expire, it offers eligible veterans access to many benefits. The Forever GI Bill gets rid of the previous 40% benefit level. It also expands the Post 9/11 GI Bill program’s 60% benefit level.

Another program veterans and their dependents may want to take advantage of is the VET TEC program. This program was created to help veterans acquire computer skills or launch a technology career. Although the programs Noble Desktop offers don’t currently qualify for funding under the VET TEC program, it can be used for other educational pursuits. Those who participate in the VET TEC program receive instruction in fields like computer programming, media applications, data processing, information science, and computer software. 

A great way to explore VA-supported programs is to use Noble Desktop’s Veterans Support Page. Here, you’ll have access to various classes for veterans, including the Data Science Certificate and Data Analytics Certificate. Noble provides in-person, VA-supported programs in New York City for those interested in full-time learning. 

Why Learn SQL Server

Learning SQL Server is a skill that not only can help you get a high-paying job but also contributes in meaningful ways to your organization. SQL Server is considered to be an industry-standard tool for those who work with relational databases. Currently, SQL Server is the third most popular database administration management system in use. It is expected to continue to be widely used in the coming years as more organizations invest in tools that help manage data. 

Those who know how to work with SQL Server and T-SQL can open many professional doors for veterans. SQL Server training has applications in various fields and professions, such as data analytics, database administration, data science, data modeling and business intelligence. Entrepreneurs often gravitate to SQL Server because Microsoft provides excellent customer services and support, clear licenses, and ease of implementation within an organization. Whereas small enterprises may select PostgreSQL to handle database tasks, large companies that rely on relational databases to handle tasks will likely find SQL Server to be a more pragmatic and useful option.

Because SQL Server has been on the market for more than three decades, there are many experts who have used this system for years. This is not necessarily the case for new NoSQL solutions and products. This makes it much easier for SQL Server users to find support when it’s needed. Another reason veterans may be interested in learning to use SQL Server is that it’s considered relatively easy to learn, even for those who lack formal IT experience. Because SQL is based on English syntax and is primarily logical, it’s thought to be one of the easier IT branches to study.

Why Choose a Skills Bootcamp?

Veterans who want to learn to work with SQL Server may not be certain which training format is the best match for them. SQL Server coursework is offered at many colleges in the U.S., but it generally isn’t available as a major. Those who choose to study SQL Server at a college or university, therefore, typically take a range of other required coursework, some of which isn’t related to SQL Server or even data. College study also requires a four-year or longer time commitment, which may not be possible for some veterans. Cost is another prohibitive factor of attending a four-year college, since it can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year to learn in this format. Learning SQL Server in this educational environment is not the most efficient way to acquire training in relational database management systems.

One popular alternative to studying SQL Sever in college is to enroll in a certificate program. Certificate programs generally take much less time to complete than earning a bachelor’s degree. Most certificate programs can be completed in just several weeks or months. They also are usually a more affordable learning option; most certificates are available for a few thousand dollars. Another reason veterans may wish to explore certificate programs is that they provide a more focused environment for learning SQL Server. Students are provided with hands-on training from experts with real-world experience working with relational databases and relational database management systems. This learning format also allows veterans to select a certificate most suited to the skills they’ll need to become data professionals. 

Bootcamps are also available for those who want to learn SQL Server. Whereas other options like college degrees require students to study topics that may not be relevant to data professionals, bootcamps provide veterans with skills-specific training that focuses on SQL Server. This training format is also much shorter than college programs and certificate programs; many bootcamps often can be completed in just days or weeks as opposed to months or years. SQL Server bootcamps are also a more affordable learning format, costing much less than certificate programs. Some are offered for several hundred to several thousand dollars. For veterans who wish to focus their studies exclusively on SQL Server, bootcamps provide a great opportunity to devote their time and effort to acquiring the database skills necessary to succeed professionally.

Learn SQL Server at Noble Desktop

If you’re new to SQL Server and want to learn the basics, Noble Desktop’s in-person and live online SQL Server Bootcamp is for you. Participants receive expert instruction about using SQL Server to locate information in databases using SQL queries, as well as joining tables, aggregating data, and filtering results. 

Noble’s in-person or live online SQL Bootcamp prepares participants to work with the free DBeaver app for exploring databases and executing queries. Noble also offers the Data Science Certificate and Data Analytics Certificate, in which PostgreSQL training is provided. The content in this course can be applied to SQL Server.

Key Insights

• Learning SQL Server is a great way for veterans to begin a high-paying career in data and acquire the skills needed to contribute to their organization in meaningful ways.
• Veterans who are interested in learning SQL Server can explore several educational support options. The GI Bill can be used toward professional training or educational pursuits like licensing, certifications, work-study programs, correspondence training, tutorial assistance, and college or graduate study. The Forever GI Bill eliminates the previously imposed 15-year limit on using veteran benefits. The VET TEC program can be used by veterans and their dependents for computer training or to begin a tech career.
• Veterans may wish to look into different learning formats for their SQL Server studies. College programs are the longest and most expensive; certificates generally span weeks or months and provide intensive professional training; skills bootcamps require just a few days or weeks and provide training exclusively in SQL Server. 
• If you’re a veteran intersted in studying SQL Server, Noble Desktop offers comprehensive training options.