Free I.T Training for Vets

CompTIA Educational Foundation offers transitioning U.S. veterans the opportunity to take for free any of its seven certification courses. Veterans must apply for the program at: http://www.comptia-ef.org/training/futures.aspx.

The CompTIA Educational Foundation provides veterans with the funding and training to help enter the information technology industry.

The following certifications are eligible for the program:

Certification Courses
CompTIA A+ ®
CompTIA Network+ ®
CompTIA Server+ ™
CompTIA Security+ ™
CompTIA Convergence+ ™

Certificate Courses
CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals
IC³ Global Standard 3 (GS3)

A thousand people have already taken advantage of the program and currently work in the I.T industry. CompTia is a leader in the I.T industry which is heavliy driven by certifications.

The median annual wage for Network and Computer Systems Administrators is $67,000 a year which is more than double the U.S. median wage. According to the Department Bureau of Labor Statistics overage the next 10 years this career field will increase by 30% which is far more than the national average.


References:

http://www.comptia-ef.org/training/futures.aspx.

http://www.bls.gov/oes/2009/may/oes151071.htm

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm

Why Does Accreditation Matter?

Why Does Accreditation Matter?


In the active duty military post secondary world 10 colleges enroll just over 50% of all students (Hadley, 2010). Eight of the ten colleges have regional accreditation which is the accreditation that allows civilians to use government loans to attend college and this is extremely important. Most state and local governments require a regionally accredited degree in order to be hired. It is considered the gold standard of accreditation.

For example in N.Y State if you want to be a Division for Youth Health Services Specialist the requirement for a college degree is “Your degree or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices” (NYS, 2010).

In the military, tuition assistance only requires national or regional accreditation which means that students with a nationally accreditation degree attempting to transfer to a regionally accredited college will encounter a problem as most do not accept national accreditation. There are two of the ten colleges that have national accreditation and they are Grantham University and Columbia Southern.

There are of course times when earning a degree nationally accredited institution makes sense. I met a senior chief who received his master’s degree from Grantham and took a lucrative job in his field from a private employer. If you intend to work for a private employer than earning a degree and recognizing that you will never work in the state, federal or local government isn’t that important.

Accreditation does not guarantee employment however it helps to have the accreditation that is most widely accepted. It is limiting to earn a nationally accredited degree that will not transfer to most state colleges in the United States and will not be accepted for federal, state or local employment.

Ironically, a regionally accredited degree is required to attend OCS as non prior enlisted candidate so the Army wouldn’t hire someone with a nationally accredited degree but they will issue TA for an enlisted member to use towards the degree.



References:

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/examannouncements/announcements/oc/28-226.cfm

Hadley, C. (2010). 50 Most Popular Colleges. Military Times Edge. June/July 2010.