With up to 5 million unfilled positions, the cybersecurity industry is facing a critical talent shortage. That makes it a prime career path for veterans.
Why?
The skills that veterans develop during their military service provide a natural transition into a cybersecurity career. Employers are eager to hire veterans who have a natural ability to analyze security scenarios and keep calm under pressure.
With that in mind, we’ve created this career guide to help veterans find cybersecurity opportunities that match their unique skills and interests.
The Veteran’s Advantage in Cybersecurity
Because they’ve spent years working with a mission-focused mindset, veterans bring a range of unique skills to the cybersecurity field. It’s difficult for civilians to replicate these skills, so veterans are often moved to the top of the list of job candidates.
Cybersecurity MOS Assignments
There are several military occupational specialties (MOS) that directly translate into civilian cybersecurity jobs.
Information technology specialists will have general industry knowledge, while people who have served as electronic warfare specialists, cyber operations specialists, or cyber network defenders will have years of specific experience to show.
Beyond cybersecurity-specific MOS assignments, there are also dozens of non-cybersecurity roles that still align with the industry. Intelligence and counterintelligence analysts, signal operations support specialists, and avionics technicians are just a few of them.
Transferable Skills
Many of the skills veterans use on the battlefield can be used in a cybersecurity career.
- Veterans know how to stay alert and vigilant, looking for the subtlest threats and suspicious behavior.
- Working in the military requires an immense amount of situational awareness. Veterans know how to piece together information from several sources, recognize patterns, and anticipate what’s coming next.
- Veterans are problem-solving experts and know how to quickly adapt to challenges.
- Veterans can stay calm under pressure, methodically work through procedures, and communicate clearly even in stressful situations.
- Many veterans still have a desire to protect the nation even after they’re discharged. While working in cybersecurity, veterans can protect the nation from cyber espionage and warfare.
Security Clearances
Many cybersecurity positions require a secret or top secret security clearance. It can take a year or longer for a civilian to obtain a security clearance. That’s valuable time that many agencies and civilian organizations don’t want to waste.
Since many veterans still have active security clearances, they can start working on critical projects and sensitive systems right away. Many public and federal employers pay higher salaries because veterans can begin work without delay.
Cybersecurity Education Options for Veterans
In most cases, veterans who are looking to get a job in cybersecurity will need additional education or certificates. There are several options, so veterans can choose the path that best fits their goals, timeline, and previous experience.
Cybersecurity College Degrees
Veterans who want to pursue the traditional, full-time college route can earn an associate’s degree in cybersecurity in about two years or a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in about four years.
Typically, a two-year associate’s degree gives veterans a solid foundation of skills and knowledge to use in a cybersecurity career. Coursework includes entry-level courses on cybersecurity principles, operating systems, and networking fundamentals.
In an online bachelor’s degree program, veterans take in-depth classes that cover advanced cybersecurity principles along with advanced math and sciences. This could include classes on digital forensics, security architecture and design, compliance frameworks, and wireless security.
Cybersecurity Certificates
For veterans who already have extensive cybersecurity knowledge, or those who are starting from scratch and don’t want to attend a full degree program, earning certificates may be the best way to enter the field. These certificates validate veterans’ knowledge and skills, and show employers that veterans are prepared to work in the industry.
- ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (Free): This free certificate is an ideal first step for veterans because there are no work requirements, and it’s designed for individuals looking for entry-level cybersecurity jobs.
- CompTIA Security+ ($425): This certificate shows that an individual has core knowledge of cybersecurity. It’s a very popular certificate and makes a great first step for beginners.
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker ($1,199): This certificate demonstrates abilities in “white hat” hacking, like penetration testing, vectors, and prevention. To take the exam, veterans must have two years of cybersecurity experience.
- ISC2 CISSP ($749): As a more advanced certification, the CISSP shows that a cybersecurity professional has the skills needed to design, implement, and monitor a cybersecurity system. Veterans need five or more years of experience before they take this certificate exam. If they’ve held a cybersecurity-related position in the military, that counts toward the five-year requirement. Individuals with this certification make an average salary of about $150,000 in the U.S.
Free Training
There are numerous free cybersecurity training programs available to veterans. Some are selective programs, while others are self-paced courses.
- CISA Learning: Formerly known as FedVTE, this service provides hundreds of hours of free cybersecurity training videos for veterans. It also offers free prep courses for the Ethical Hacking and CISSP certifications.
- CyberSkills2Work: Led by the University of West Florida, this organization provides free virtual and in-person cybersecurity courses for veterans. The programs also offer certifications, career mentoring, and connections to several Fortune 500 companies.
- SkillBridge: This DoD-sponsored program allows active service members to work for a civilian company during their last 180 days of service. There are numerous cybersecurity opportunities on SkillBridge, and many provide a training or career pathway that extends beyond the 180-day trial period.
Cybersecurity Career Paths for Veterans
The cybersecurity industry is facing a serious talent shortage that creates a wealth of opportunities for veterans.
In 2024, ISC2 estimated that the industry needed an additional 4.7 million professionals in order to adequately staff cybersecurity departments across the world. At least 500,000 of those vacancies are in the United States.
Both federal and private sector organizations are eager to hire veterans to fill these cybersecurity positions. In many instances, veterans may be able to choose between multiple job offers.
Cybersecurity Jobs at Government Agencies
There are nearly 42,000 veterans working in government IT roles.
Security-specific agencies like the CIA, NSA, FBI, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have a nearly constant hiring demand for cybersecurity professionals. In these positions, veterans may use their cybersecurity skills to conduct criminal investigations, track cybercriminal organizations, target foreign enemies, or research zero-day exploits.
Other federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, and the DoD’s Cyber Command or Defense Intelligence Agency also hire cybersecurity-trained veterans to protect the nation from cyber threats.
For example, veterans could be tasked with protecting power grid systems, operating red teams to test network defenses, or generating threat intelligence reports to track adversarial patterns.
Cybersecurity Jobs in the Private Sector
Veterans who want to work in the private sector can find cybersecurity openings in nearly every industry.
- Defense contractors like Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Raytheon Technologies employ thousands of veterans and typically pay very well. For example, cybersecurity analysts with less than three years of experience can earn $100,000 annually, with additional bonuses for security clearances.
- Tech giants, like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, hire veterans to protect billions of users. Many of these companies offer veteran-specific internships and apprenticeships, too. In addition, these jobs typically don’t require security clearances, which makes them ideal for veterans who have expired security clearances.
- The financial sector is being bombarded with cyberattacks, and they’re looking for skilled veterans to protect their assets.
- The healthcare sector is targeted by cybercriminals because of its readily available access to personal information. Veterans with cybersecurity training are often hired by hospitals, large insurers, and medical device manufacturers.
Assistance and Support for Veterans
There are a number of financial resources, community-based support programs, and transition resources that make it easier for veterans to get started with a job in cybersecurity.
- Post-9/11 GI Bill: This is the most popular way for veterans to finance their cybersecurity training. The GI Bill typically pays for college degree programs and a variety of VA-approved certification training courses.
- Yellow Ribbon Program: This program covers some of the costs that the GI Bill doesn’t cover. This typically includes high out-of-state undergraduate tuition and graduate program tuition.
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E): These benefits apply to veterans with service-related disabilities. These veterans have access to post-secondary educational opportunities as well as career counseling and medical support.
- Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship: This VA-sponsored scholarship provides up to $30,000 for training in high-demand STEM fields like cybersecurity.
- Non-DoD Scholarships: Many universities, private companies, and public organizations offer scholarship opportunities specifically for veterans.
Wrapping Up
As veterans transition out of military service, they don’t have to give up their dedication to protecting the nation. The critical thinking skills they displayed while enlisted directly translate to a career in the cybersecurity industry.
Demand for veterans in the cybersecurity industry is likely to increase dramatically in the coming years. Veterans can get started today with whatever path works best for them: enrolling in an online course, studying for a certification, or fully committing to a four-year degree program.