If you're leaving the military or already out and want to move into IT or cybersecurity, there are real programs that will train you for little or nothing. Some are run by universities, some by tech companies, one by the VA. A few are open to veterans, service members, and military spouses alike; one is competitive; one recently changed a rule that matters if you still have GI Bill left. Here's each program, who qualifies, what it covers, and exactly where to apply.

1. Onward to Opportunity (O2O) — Syracuse University

A free career-training program run by the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. It covers more than 40 industry certifications — CompTIA Security+, Network+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft Azure, and more — across IT, cybersecurity, and business tracks.

Who qualifies: transitioning service members (final six months of active duty), veterans, and military spouses.

Cost: free. If you enroll while unemployed or in your final six months of service, O2O can also cover your certification exam fees ($200–$400 each). If you're currently employed, the training is still free, but you'd cover the exam yourself. IVMF's study — an independent evaluation by Penn State’s Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness — found O2O participants started their first post-service job earning about $7,000 more on average than a statistically matched comparison group, and about $13,000 more for junior enlisted (E-6 and below).

Apply: ivmf.syracuse.edu

2. SANS Cyber Academy (formerly VetSuccess)

A scholarship program through SANS Institute, one of the most respected cybersecurity training organizations in the country. Civilians pay roughly $8,000–$10,000 per course including the exam; for those who qualify, it's 100% free. It covers up to three courses and their GIAC certification exams, leading to three vendor-neutral credentials: GFACT (foundational), GSEC (security essentials), and GCIH (incident handler).

Who qualifies: U.S. citizens or permanent residents. SANS folded its veteran-specific VetSuccess academy into the broader Cyber Academy, so it's no longer veterans-only — but it's built for people entering cybersecurity from outside the industry, and veterans remain a core group it serves. No prior cybersecurity experience required.

One thing to know: this is a competitive scholarship, not open enrollment. You apply to a cohort and take a timed aptitude assessment designed to measure potential, not existing knowledge. It runs three cohorts a year, with applications opening in May, October, and January.

Apply: sans.org/cyber-academy

3. VET TEC 2.0 — VA-funded bootcamps

VET TEC (Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses) is a VA program that pays tuition, a housing allowance, and books for an approved coding school or tech bootcamp. After running as a pilot from 2019 to 2024, it was reauthorized under the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act and reopened for applications in June 2026 — VA's page now states, "You can apply online right now." It's capped at 4,000 paid participants a year, so applying early matters.

One important change from the old version: the original VET TEC didn't touch your GI Bill. VET TEC 2.0 does — if you have Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, or DEA benefits remaining, the VA charges one month of entitlement for every month of full-time training. If you've already used up your GI Bill, you can still participate with no deduction. So if you have months left and might want them for a degree later, factor that in.

Who qualifies: veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or active-duty within 180 days of separation; at least 36 months of active duty; under 62 at approval.

Apply: va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/vet-tec-2

4. Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA)

A roughly 17-week program that trains the military community for tech roles in software development, cloud, cybersecurity, and related fields. Microsoft fully funds it — it's free, and it doesn't use your GI Bill. Graduates get a guaranteed job interview with Microsoft or one of its hiring partners.

Who qualifies: transitioning service members (within 180 days of separation), veterans and retirees, and Guard/Reserve members; honorable or general-under-honorable discharge. (Open to U.S. and UK service members.)

Timing: applications run in windows tied to each cohort. As of late June 2026, the cohort beginning November 2026 is accepting applications June 22–July 6, 2026 (window closes July 6 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific; miss it and the next window is Aug 24–Sept 7, 2026 for the January cohort). Microsoft hosts weekly online info sessions for prospective applicants — worth attending, but start the application itself now.

Apply: military.microsoft.com/mssa

5. AWS re/Start

A free, full-time, roughly 12-week program that trains people for entry-level cloud careers — Linux, Python, networking, security, databases, and AWS Cloud skills — and includes résumé coaching, interview prep, and connections to employers. It prepares you for an AWS certification exam (cohorts commonly include an exam voucher).

Who qualifies: it's not veteran-specific — it's aimed at people who are unemployed or underemployed and starting a new career, and veterans are squarely in its target group (some cohorts run with veteran-serving partners). No tech background required.

Apply: aws.amazon.com/training/restart

6. Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship

Not a class — a job placement. This is a Department of Defense SkillBridge fellowship that puts you inside a real civilian company for 12 weeks (four days a week on the job, one in professional development) before you separate, so you leave the service with current experience and a foot in the door.

Who qualifies: active-duty service members within 180 days of separation — this one is not for veterans who've already separated. (Hiring Our Heroes runs a separate fellowship for military spouses.) Because it's SkillBridge, you keep your military pay during the fellowship.

Apply: hiringourheroes.org/fellowships

A note on timing. Several of these run on cohort windows, not rolling enrollment — MSSA's current window closes July 6, and VET TEC's 4,000 seats are first-come within the fiscal year. If one fits, start the application now even if you're not separating for months; most let you begin the process early.

Sources: VA.gov VET TEC 2.0 · IVMF O2O · IVMF impact evaluation · SANS Cyber Academy · Microsoft MSSA · AWS re/Start · Hiring Our Heroes