The scope of the organization’s Information Technology program touched in-house business and mission processes as well as interfacing with civilian and government organizations on the national, state, and local level. It included equipment management and application interaction among ground, aircraft, and satellite resources. And even with this wide a scale of involvement in so many aspects of the operation, our role touched on only a limited number of applications from the vast opportunities available in such a diverse field as Information Technology.

Due to the wide array of possibilities open to an Information Technology professional, it might be difficult for you to determine which degree program you want to pursue. In an effort to make things a little simpler, we can break down the field into two main areas of specialization – Systems (the physical tools, instruments, and hardware that makes it all work), and Process Applications (the software programs that perform required IT tasks and run on the aforementioned systems). This first article will cover the Systems category, while my next article, Part 2, will focus on Process Application Development.

Systems Category

Information Technology practitioners working in the Systems side of the field typically deal with the actual computers, networks, security systems, and the required support networks used to run the business process applications. Systems workers also provide the means of connectivity among both local and geographically disparate parts of an IT system, handling local and worldwide information sharing, system resources, and interfaces. Some examples of specialized tasks from the Systems field include:

- Purchasing, setting up, and maintaining computers (including end user support)

- Designing, installing, and maintaining networks

- Database administration

- Developing, deploying, and monitoring system security

Most military members serving in Information Technology roles play some part in one or more of the above tasks. And anyone who’s been deployed to a new location knows both the importance and urgency placed on completing these tasks efficiently and effectively. Depending on the size – and budget – for the system in question, IT workers can find themselves working on all of these functions at once, or focusing on a specific role like monitoring and interpreting security logs to prevent or stop hacking attempts. On the Systems side of the Information Technology arena, there are occasional requirements for coding and programming, though those functions are typically not the primary task at hand.

Be sure to stay tuned for part 2 of this article, where I will explore the Process Application Development category of IT. Also watch out for future updates from both myself and other experts in the Information Technology field. We’ll be providing a wealth of information on specific issues and general considerations alike. Be sure to help out fellow service members by inviting them to participate in our forum either as a contributor, or another interested reader, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience. We’d love to hear from you!

When making such a big decision you first need to ask yourself what it is you enjoy? If you enjoy animals for example, then perhaps you should consider a veterinary carrier. But what if you don’t have the training?

If you want to do something after your Army life that requires schooling then waste no time and get going. Many who served in the Army qualified for the G.I. Bill, which gives you money for college. You should know if you have the G.I. Bill or not, but if you are unsure you can always go talk to a recruiter who can then put you in touch with the proper personnel. Also, because you served in the Army, there are many scholarships, grants, and loans that are specifically designed to aid you in your quest for greater knowledge. To find out what these are, seek the advice of the financial aid office in the college you are thinking of attending.

Perhaps though college isn’t right for you. In this case maybe you can take what you learned in the Army and apply it to civilian life. If you were in the Military Police for example, then perhaps a career in law enforcement would be rewarding for you. Maybe you worked in the motorcade. With the skills you learned there, you could easily translate that into a good paying auto technician job. The point is, whatever you did in the Army for Uncle Sam, there is almost always a counterpart in the private sector.

When you are seeking private employment be sure to mention that you served in the Army as many employers look for the discipline in an employee that the Army teaches. Being in the Army looks great on a resume and you never know which prospective employer may have served in the armed forces as well.
Before deciding what to do, ask yourself these questions first:

• What are your goals?
• What are your skills?
• What are your interests?
• Do you want to seek higher education?

Once you have secured your employment and are looking for housing, keep in mind that there are many loans that are tailored for those that served in the Army. If buying a house is your desire, then talk to your real estate agent about any special loans for former military.

Any move in life takes getting used to. A move out of Army life and into civilian life takes a lot of getting used to. Remember the decisions you make will affect the rest of your life so take your time and choose wisely. There are many advantages and special offers for those that did serve in the military, as there should be, and you should take full advantage of each and every one.

Application Development Category

People often assume that individuals working in Application Development Information Technology careers are simply programmers or coders, but there is far more to the field than that. IT offers companies the opportunity to increase efficiency across the board, saving time, manpower and money, while increasing customer satisfaction rates at the same time. Typically, automating business and mission processes is the best way to accomplish these types of effectiveness and efficiency improvements, with some examples of specializations in this area including:

? Determining which business processes can be improved with automation

? Conducting process reengineering to gain maximum benefits from IT capabilities

? Application and database development (programming/coding)

? Testing applications and training end users

? Maintaining and upgrading applications

While some application development is done by military members, much of this is outsourced to civilian contractors. But again, as with the Systems career path of Information Technology, depending on the size and needs of the organization you work for, you could find yourself working on all of these tasks at the same time.

College courses and degree programs provide the ?foundation? necessary for developing the abilities needed to pursue (and succeed!) in a specialized Information Technology career. Certifications are also an option as a sort of ?quick fix,? normally used to quickly get you up-to-speed in a particular specialization.

This article just skims the surface of all the exciting opportunities available to those interested in pursuing a career in Information Technology. But it should be a useful place to start for those of you looking for information regarding how to choose a degree program. And remember, if you?re on active duty in the military, you know you?re going to need a degree for promotion at some point- so you might as well start right away! And even if you do intend on leaving the service, your future employers are going to evaluate your capabilities based on your education level by examining both your degree(s) and your certifications.

Keep in mind – other individuals competing for the same IT positions as yourself are aware of this necessity, so you should do everything you can to set yourself apart from ?just another Information Technology technician? by getting that degree or an additional certification. It can?t hurt!

Talk to one of our admissions counselors about the opportunity of enrolling in one of our many affordable online programs, giving you the flexibility, and the expertise, that you need to succeed in your IT career. And ask us about your TA, Montgomery GI Bill (Chap 30), and even the new Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chap 33) benefits- while they?re still available. Reduced military tuition rates and military scholarships help extend those benefits even further, minimizing your out-of-pocket expenses, so why wait?

The military member is:

? Seeking a specific IT degree and has the background needed to be successful

? Already employed in a career in IT and interested in pursuing that Information Technology career path, but unsure how best to proceed

? Not currently working in IT, but interested in an Information Technology career

? Currently working a career in Information Technology, but wants to get a degree in a different field of IT

With my military and IT related experience, I feel uniquely capable of offering relevant guidance to the member to help them make an informed choice of how to proceed. This 2nd article in my Information Technology series provides discussion of some initial considerations the service member faces in choosing an education path, as well as some things to consider when choosing information technology careers. Center to any decision should be the understanding that advanced education is important for promotion purposes and to enhance the quality of life potential for you and your family. Further, you should take advantage of the available funding to get your education as soon as possible, before it is no longer available.

Three main ingredients will likely determine your success in an IT career path: your degree, your certifications, and your relevant experience in the field. Don?t short change any one of the three if you want to maximize your potential and worth to an employer, and minimize your likelihood of being laid off or replaced. You should also be aware that the IT arena is constantly evolving and advancing, so continuing-education and updating certifications will be a way of life. Don?t let this discourage you since this makes for an interesting long-term career that can be tweaked in varying directions and be very satisfying and fulfilling.

As for IT careers in general, you should also understand that Information Technology must be a strategic partner in most successful enterprises. It is not a silver-bullet to the organization?s success but is a vital and critical support component to any enterprise. As such, IT careers usually require 24/7 attention, so be prepared for varied daily schedules, and know that IT work-weeks can be notoriously long. If you choose your path wisely, this should not be a problem considering that the IT field has been one of the top two fields for job security and pay/benefits for the past many years.

No matter what your personality ? careers in IT are available for you. If you are not a people-person, IT jobs are available in which you are off in a corner rarely seen or bothered by anyone (you can be like a mushroom in a dark cave.) However, if you?re a socialite, Information Technology jobs are also available where this trait is critical for promoting collaboration and helping keep IT a valued team player in the enterprise. Jobs abound for personalities in-between those.

Finally with IT career experience in your background, don?t short change your education or experience as you move to another career field such as business, healthcare, or criminal justice. That knowledge and experience can make you more valuable to a future employer since Information Technology is a key ingredient in all of those fields also.

There are many career paths a soldier can choose in this modern army: medical, computers, communications, mechanic, pilot, administration, journalist and so many more. Here are a few examples of how the combination of military education and real hands-on experience translates into the private sector career path.

Medic to Doctor

One of the most prized people on the battlefield is the Medic. This person is responsible for maintaining the health, and sometimes the life of every soldier in their unit. This experience, once they leave the military, sets them up for a career in medicine whether it as a doctor, nurse, technician or surgeon they will have the knowledge and the experience to be ready for anything coming their way.

Computers

The modern army is using computers more and more all the time and the complexity of the systems used require some in-depth training for those military personnel who handle the cyber areas of the military. This skill and experience translates into dozens and dozens of possible career possibilities in the private sector. Soldiers who come of the military with heavy computer experience will find that they will be seriously in demand in many areas of business.

Communications

Our military has taken communications to levels previously unheard of, as units are able to communicate with each other through radio, the Internet and via satellite. Taking this communication experience and know how out of the military and into the real world opens doors in communication and networking companies. These companies are constantly expanding and looking for new and strongly skilled employees and the military produces just those people.

Cyber-security

Because computers are all over the world and involved in everything there are people who will always try to disrupt them and take control for nefarious reasons. This is something the military takes very seriously and they have trained cyber soldiers who specialize in network security and protection. Private sector companies, value their data and security as much as anyone else, if not more so, and they are always looking for people with better skills than the hackers they need to defend themselves from.

The military takes normal men and women and turns them into highly trained and motivated soldiers as well as strongly skilled members of a workforce. The skills learned during military service are skills that can carry a person from civilian to soldier and back to a civilian with needed and demanded skills. These skills can help the soldier land a career and be well on their way to a life of accomplishment. The military is not only about creating soldiers, it’s about life after the military and your career opportunities when you cycle back to the world.

The Army and Marine Corps both have enlisted personnel, warrant officers and commissioned officers. However, the Air Force stands out among the different divisions, as it does not have any listed ranks for warrant officers. Instead, the list of enlisted personnel for the Air Force is nearly twice as long as most other branches.

The Marines and Army both start off the category for enlisted personnel with Private Classmen and Private First Classmen. However, the similarities in order of advancement titles end here. For the Marines, Lance Corporals, Sergeants and Master Sergeants comprise the remaining titles for advancement.

Specialists, and variations of Sergeants complete the chain of command within the category for enlisted personnel. The warrant officers and commissioned officers of the Marine Corps and the Army have similar ranks for their warrant officers and commissioned officers, as well.

The Air Force stands apart from most branches of the military that use categories, such as enlisted personnel, warrant officers and commissioned officers for easier reference, as they do not have a section for warrant officers. The category for enlisted personnel begins with Airmen, and progresses through higher chains in command as follows: Airman First Class, Senior Airman, Staff Sergeant, Tech. Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Senior Sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant. Commissioned Officers begin with the 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant and proceed through the order of rank as Majors, Captains, Colonels, Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals.

The department was founded in 1790 as the United States Coast Guard or USCG, as part of the Department of Treasury. Initially, the job involved countering smuggling off the U.S. coastline. However, today the Coast Guard is responsible for the promotion of peace and rescue operations.

Basic Requirements

The following are some of the requirements for becoming a Coast Guard officer:

-You should be a citizen of the U.S. or a resident alien.

-You should be between 17 to 27 years of age to qualify for active service.

-You should be a high school graduate.

-You should have cleared the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test or ASVAB.

-You should have passed a military entrance exam.

Benefits Of Becoming A Coast Guard Officer

-Steady Income: You are paid twice a month, depending on the specified pay grade at the time of recruitment.

-Chances Of Promotion: Your work is periodically appraised on the basis of performance, time served in a particular pay grade and service requirements.

-Paid Vacation: You are eligible for paid leave, comprising of 30 days in a year.

-Health Care: You are eligible for complete medical and dental health care, absolutely free.

-Life Insurance: You are covered under a $400,000 life insurance plan.

Training

The training for a Coast Guard officer involves training at a boot camp at Cape May, New Jersey. The training lasts for 8 weeks and is mentally and physically challenging. Water survival techniques are taught hands on. The physical fitness regime adopted differs for the male and female recruits. Candidates are grouped to instill teamwork and co-ordination from the very start. The ability to swim is not a prerequisite for the Coast Guard. The selected candidates are given lessons in swimming and basic water rescue operations.

The Coast Guard Academy

The academy is one of the five federal military service academies in the U.S. Candidates are not charged a tuition fee and the academy offers various options to recruits. Some of them are:

-Civil Engineering.

-Mechanical Engineering.

-Naval Architecture.

-Marine Engineering.

-Operations Research and Computer Analysis.

All the options within the job profile of a Coast Guard involve rigorous training and detailed, specific education with regards to the department chosen.

How To Apply

Applications are accepted online, with the deadline being March 1st of each year. All inquires can be made directly to:

The Director of Admissions

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

15, Mohegan Avenue

New London

CT-06320 9807

Other Options

The U.S. Coast Guard Reserves offers part-time recruitment also. It is the perfect way for those in college or already working to gain experience with the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard also welcomes the services of physicians, dentists and pharmacists.

The job involves rescue operations, aircraft missions, interception of illegal migrants and port safety checks. The diversity of activity handled by the Coast Guard is attractive and a planned approach to becoming a part of the United States Coast Guard is not difficult at all.