What is it like to go through 25B reclass?

<p>SGT Alexander,</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I am going to give you a set of resources/study materials:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>To-Do:</strong></p><p>-Study for your CompTIA A+ exam</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Pass Skillport course and TestPrep</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Pass the MeasureUp pre-assessment</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Use Books24x7, SafariBooksOnline, and FedVTE to study</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Ask your unit ATCTS manager for a voucher</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -Pass the exams (A+ 801 and 802)</p><p>-If you have more time rinse and repeat for Network+, Security+, CCENT, CCNA, CEH, CHFI, CAP, CISSP, CASP, CISM, GIAC, etc... Just pick your poison. As a side note, you want to complete certifications in order of precedence because the CIO/G6 will refuse to pay for lower level certifications if you hold a higher level cert. Also if you do not qualify for a free voucher due to your duty position there are several options.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>============================</p><p>-Ways to fund your professional education:</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -<strong>Tuition Asisstance</strong> will fund one certification once in your career for up to $500.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -<strong>GI Bill</strong> if you pass the exam.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -<strong>AFCEA Membership</strong> [http://www.afceadc.org/membership]: Please become a member, it is very inexpensive, you get a highly informative magazine every month on the state of the Signal world, and you become eligible for many valuable scholarships.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -<strong>Western Governors University</strong> [http://www.wgu.edu]: This university is regionally accredited and offers ~10 IT certification as part of the program of study that are fully paid for by TA. Plus a Bachelor of Science in IT Security is bound to come in use some day. Also since the program requires you to be full time you will probably qualify for a Pell Grant of up to ~$5500 per year in cash.</p><p>============================</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Skillport </strong>[http://usarmy.skillport.com]: Most everyone knows about Skillport, but what they don't often know is that certain courses in Skillport coupled with the associated TestPrep will allow you to qualify for certification vouchers. Use this link for a list of prerequisite training and preassessments required before the CIO/G6 will give you a voucher [https://atc.us.army.mil/iastar/news.php?module=attachment&amp;id=38].</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Army Training &amp; Certification Tracking System</strong> (ATCTS)&nbsp;[https://atc.us.army.mil]: ATCTS is an Army system to track Information Assurance training compliance. A quick pro tip is that last week we regulated the term "information assurance" out of use and now are using "cyber security." A second pro tip is to ensure you are registered on ATCTS and once you have some CompTIA certifications that you register them with DMDC [https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwc/index.jsp].</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Fed-VTE</strong> [https://www.fedvte-fsi.gov/Vte.Lms.Web]: The Federal Virtual Training Environment is operated by the Department of Homeland Security but is available to the military. You will need to be granted access by your community manager. If you don't know who that is just email or call&nbsp;FedVTE and they will provide you with the contact information you need. This site offers incredible instructor led video training. All of it is very relevant, but I'd like to point out that their CISSP and CompTIA video training courses are very well done.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Safari Books Online</strong> [http://techbus.safaribooksonline.com/?uicode=dodarmy]: This is the best kept secret amongst the&nbsp;DoD IT folk. This site provides access to over 37,000 IT, Engineering, Business Management, and Financial books. The service is quite expensive, so the various&nbsp;branches (USAF/USN/USMC/USCG need to use a different link from their service) provide it gratis to those that need it. Safari Books Online&nbsp;has apps for IOS &amp;&nbsp;Android and it can be accessed on the desktop by webpage. Up to three books can be saved for offline viewing and every month tokens are distributed that can be saved up to buy a book.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>U.S. Army Information Assurance Virtual Training</strong> [https://iatraining.us.army.mil]: More great training. Really high speed stuff so take you time and setup a personal lab to practice what you learn.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>LandWarNet eUniversity</strong> [https://lwn.army.mil]: This is where you go to learn the more tactical-side-of-the-house technologies. Everything they are going to rapidly rush through in AIT can be reviewed in detail here. Some stuff can be difficult to really learn without the actual equipment, but at least you will know where to look after class.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>S6 Community of Purpose</strong> [https://s6.army.mil/]: As a 25B it is highly probable that you will be in an S6 or G6 somewhere. This site is kind of like the wiki for 25B's and their officer counterparts. While in AIT, if you get the chance, make sure and volunteer for the Signal Digital Master Gunner course. Some will try and convince you that this will pigeon hole you into tactical units. The reality is whether you get the training or not you will be expected to operate and maintain the applications and equipment covered by the DMG course.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Information Assurance Support Environment</strong> [http://iase.disa.mil/]: DoD's IA education portal. Lots of training and admin tools.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>More Signal Sites:</strong></p><p>https://sigkn.army.mil/portal/</p><p>http://slkn.army.mil/</p><p>http://signal.army.mil/index.php</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While you are at the school house take advantage of their resources. They can offer you a subscription to MSDN which will give you access to a huge library of Microsoft software such as all versions of Windows, Windows Server, SQL Server, Visual Studio, XNA Studio, etc...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You can also get access to Cisco's Net Academy. This will allow you to train and study for the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam (CCNA) from within a highly interactive online environment. Plus you will get acces to a free download of Cisco Packet Tracer which will let you simulate huge networks and practice configuring tons of different Cisco devices.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Software:</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Anti-Virus for Home Use </strong></p><p>[https://www.acert.1stiocmd.army.mil/Antivirus/Home_Use.htm]: Make sure your computer is secure using free full editions of various anti-virus products provided fully licensed by ACERT. My recommendation is the Symantec Enpoint Protection. Make sure you chose the correct version (32bit/64bit) for your operating system.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Microsoft Office 2013 Home Use Program</strong> [https://chess.army.mil/cms/a/HomeUseProgram]: The Army offers a very inexpensive way of getting a digital or physical copy of Microsoft Office 2013. It's about $10-$20 for a home use license. Make sure you take advantage of this since it periodically disappears.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>VirtualBox</strong> [https://www.virtualbox.org/]: Oracle's VirtualBox is a state of the art virtualization client. There are many alternatives but none as complete <em>and</em> cheap as VirtualBox. Use this to virtualize the many Linux distros, Windows variants, and other operating systems you are learning on.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>GNS3</strong> [http://www.gns3.net/]: A graphical network simulator that will allow you to emulate an assortment of Cisco routers. Very, very, very good training.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Kali Linux</strong> [http://www.offensive-security.com/community-projects/kali-linux/]: THE hacker's operating system of choice. Also a good way to brush up on your linux skills. Plus if you learn it really well you could aim to pass the Offensive Security Certified Professinal (OSCP) certification which is the crème de la crème of Hacker certifications and nearly guarantees a job with a PenTesting company on the outside. Also it is a semi-requirement for those applying to the Army's&nbsp;World Class Cyber Opposition Force (WCCOPFOR).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Microsoft SysInternals Suite</strong> [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb842062.aspx]: The quintessential administrator's toolbox. Never leave home without it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://signal.army.mil/images/graphics/toolbox/owa-icon-mini-glass_sm.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://signal.army.mil/index.php">Signal Center of Excellence - Home - United States Army Signal Center of Excellence</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Official United States Army Signal Center of Excellence</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="https://www.virtualbox.org/graphics/vbox_logo2_gradient.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="https://www.virtualbox.org/" target="_blank"> Oracle VM VirtualBox </a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">
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Congrats SGT Alexander. Speaking from my experience (I reclassed to 25B in 2010) this is an exciting field to be in while your serving and from my understanding even better when your finally out. My best advice is since like you I came into the game late, you should try and work on you basic certs (COMPTia A+, Network + and Security +) now if you have the time. There is some online training you can take before you get there. Be open-minded and absorb all the information you can while you at Gordon. School is just shy of 6 months long so you will have some time down there. Best of luck to you.

Not to take away from SGT Alexander's initial request, but are the A+ and Network+ really that relevant these days? I've had my A+ since '98 and I took my Network+ on a whim during lunch and passed it back when it first came out.

I'm not trying to belittle those who are studying for it, I guess since I've been on the management side so long I don't recall the last time I used those certs or any of my guys.

I would recommend Microsoft server certs, CNE is picking back up since there are so few of them left, and also CCNA would be a great way to round out the skill set. Anytime you can add UNIX/LINUX would be good, even for me (a Windows guy). Security certs are starting to really pick up in the civilian world too (CISSP, CRISC, etc).