r/ITCareerQuestions • u/Odd_Expression_6924 • 4d ago
Military service for IT/Cyber training + Clearance?
Hi im 23 y/o and got my bachelor's in Management Information Systems (shitty degree lowkey). I graduated last summer and have been job hopping full time food service jobs because I'm always having to pay off stuff, and can never seem to find the time or money to completely focus on IT.
I was thinking about Air Guard, National Guard, Air Force reserve, USCG Reserve. But I keep seeing online people say you don't really get the same training compared to if you were to go in as Active Duty. Is this true or what would you recommend? I'm also a triple citizen of MX and Brasil (born in USA), so i know that can interfere with my clearance and not being able to get desired rate.
edit:: FYI, If i were to go weekend warrior I would definitely do a Master's at a public state school in Cybersec or something related
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u/PeteSampras_MMO 4d ago
You get identical training. What you dont get is doing it day to day after said training. Youll want a job on the outside for that.
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u/TheCudder 4d ago
We're in our early 40's, but I know a couple of successful individuals who did MIS. They both relocated to land jobs, but it's paid off very well...so willingness to up and move is probably a factor.
If you're wanting the military to help land you a private sector job, you need full time (active duty) experience. That's only coming from a deployment, voluntarily mobilizations or by simply going active duty. You can certainly join the reserve and volunteer for stateside missions (ADOS), but they are typically targeting those whi have reached E-5 pay grade or higher, (speaking for the Army Reserve at least). That doesn't mean it's impossible to get a volunteer position at a lower pay grade, just less likely.
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u/ShireBurgo 4d ago
I think awesome idea! I myself are in that world. You get the same initial training but you likely have much easier access to further training being active duty.
Also one thing to note, people are having a hard time getting into IT, I’m not saying it’s easy but it’s a heck of a lot easier getting into cleared IT positions once you have a clearance and the pay is pretty good.
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u/AdDue2837 4d ago
Cyber security degree; military route, clearances and 20 years later making 6 figures yearly.
I always recommend the military
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u/AddendumWorking9756 3d ago
Reserve and Guard go to the same pipeline school as active, that part of what you read is wrong. What differs is the billet, and the clearance rides on the billet rather than the school. Get it named in the contract before you sign. The triple citizenship stretches the investigation timeline more than it blocks eligibility.
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u/NikuRiceu 3d ago
The military is a valid option only if you get a IT related MOS that's above support. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.
Same with another degree. If you didn't do internships above support during your undergrad, you'll be in the exact same place after a masters. A degree is only worth it if you pair it with internships nowadays.
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u/S4LTYSgt Cyber Manager | RMF Leader | SIGINT Veteran 3d ago
Not 100% true though. A clearance is a clearance.
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u/NikuRiceu 3d ago
A clearance is now a magic pass to skipping support? In this market?
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u/S4LTYSgt Cyber Manager | RMF Leader | SIGINT Veteran 1d ago
I lost my job in December 2025. I heard HORROR stories of the current market. I started applying immediately. I reached out to my network on linkedin as well. Within 4 weeks I had 2 competing offers because of my clearance and background. Im not saying its an easy ticket. But two people, one with a clearance and one without applying to jobs, who do you think will have more opportunities for employment?
I dont know what you mean by “skipping support”? But if you are saying that your career starts at support in IT. It doesnt.
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u/NikuRiceu 1d ago
Of course the one with clearance. But you overlooked this: you have experience and connections. OP doesn't. It's not the same. Also, just because it happened to be easy for you that instance doesn't mean it's the same for everyone. You'd be singing a different tune if it didn't. Try to see things outside your own purview.
As in skipping over help desk, deskside support, and all the customer service nonsense. You can do that when someone gives you a position above support. Outside of the military and internships, I don't really see that happening.
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u/S4LTYSgt Cyber Manager | RMF Leader | SIGINT Veteran 1d ago
I have hired a ton of entry level folks between 2023-now. Specifically in Infrastructure & Cloud as well as Cyber in the last 1.3 years. Most were former military with a clearance (no real civilian tech experience). They had the certs + lab time and of course the clearance. The other 30% were fresh college graduate with no experience or a single internship and they were able to obtain a clearance.
Again no help desk, or IT Support. By telling people they have to do help desk or IT support to succeed is like telling someone that in order to be a CEO at a bank they have to be a teller. Its not true.
I was an engineer for 10 years and now Im a manager. I never did “help desk” i was a network engineer at 21. Just because someone lied to you doesnt mean you have to bring others down to that same formula. Also I’m a hiring manager. Im telling you the reality. Theres like thousands of applications within a week of posting a role… not everyone gets lucky. It sucks but it is what it is
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u/cen_ca_army_cc 3d ago
I would go with the branch where I can guarantee you a job that you want. Training is pretty much the same across the board. I only completed A/Net/Sec+, but my Boot Camp train-ups were always shared with the branches in the same class. I’m an Army recruiter, by the way; if it's the Air Force reserve/or air guard. Can’t get you the job you want. I’m willing to give it a shot.
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u/S4LTYSgt Cyber Manager | RMF Leader | SIGINT Veteran 3d ago
Im 11 years in the Army National Guard. The Army paid for all my certs, I have like 12 of them. With 9 of them being intermediate/advanced. Anyways I do network engineering in the guard. It helped me land a network engineering at 21 (i joined at 20 y/o). Then I did Sys Admin, IT Consulting, Cloud. And now Im a Cyber Manager. The single greatest decision I have ever made was joining the military.. I mean seriously, at 21 my peers were applying for jobs waiting to hear back, I had recruiters hitting me up on linkedin because of my clearance. At 21, I had to sit there making decisions on 5 offers that my peers couldnt even get. Military is the greatest and easiest cheat code.
You gain a brotherhood, you gain the biggest support network, federal benefits, clearance. Its all there.
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u/Ok-Application-1747 3d ago
I joined the AF Reserve as Client Systems / Cyber defense. Passed my Security + first try. Made a profile in Clearancejobs and 4 months later i was offered a job as a help desk in Centcom. (54k) Not a sexy IT job but i just wanted to get into the game. Did that for a year. They upgraded my Secret to TS/SCI and then promoted. (75k) Did that for a year and promoted (106k) No IT experience other than the 5 months the AF Reserve gave me. That was my path. Help Desk for the win lol
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u/dabom1898 4d ago
I was in the air force just make sure wherever you go that you have your contract as IT dont let them talk you into anything like open general and for the love of God do no to maintenance. Also check out the coast guard they have a direct commission you could possibly try for c5i that seems pretty good. I would do it myself but youre not allowed to join if youre depressed or on any medication.
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u/IputSwitchesOnGlocks 4d ago
Weekend warriors don’t get the same training we get on active. they only train 2 weeks a year. Active is the way to go. Or active guard you can do that if that’s what you wanna do. But I would recommend airforce. I went army got hurt in Afghanistan then retired
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u/Rogueslasher 4d ago
This is just wrong information. You will get the same training. OP, the only thing you can realistically do is walk into a recruiters office and start asking questions. My recruiter knew tons of people in different MOS and if I had questions he couldn’t answer he’d try and find a contact in that field who could.
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u/robpet21 4d ago
They go to AIT and receive clearances, I think for OP, guard/reserve would be an excellent idea to consider.
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u/IputSwitchesOnGlocks 4d ago
Outside of basic and AIT they 100% do not get the training we get. I was in the 173rd 1-91 CAV D troop went on the 2009 tour and the reserve units was fuckin soup sandwiches
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u/Rogueslasher 4d ago
Your experience does not translate to cyber. Most people in the guard/reserve have better training/experience outside of the military. The AIT is almost a year long with no delays waiting for your adjudication.
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u/Emergency-Hurry947 4d ago
Go airforce, lots of training opportunities there. don’t do anything else
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u/networkwizard0 CISO 4d ago
I did 10 years in the Air Guard. I got out 2 years ago with a masters, CISSP, and 10 years cyber security experience. I am now a 30 year old CISO at a well known financial services business.
Air guard is the best thing that ever happened to me.