Are there any 255A or 255N Warrant officers that can give advice on how to get experience without working in the IT field?

Prior 255N, now 170A. If you have a laptop, then spin up some virtualization software. You can also rely on GNS3 and Cisco Packet Tracer to emulate network and host connections. Add a couple of virtual machines to communicate with GNS3 and you've got a fairly decent lab.

Also, check out the Cisco ASAv and Cloud ASR routers; they are free to download and use within a test environment. Combine those technical skills with lessons and readings from Safari Books manuals, FedVTE (just search for networking) and things on open source training sites like Cybrary and you'll have a fairly decent foundation. The JKO and ALMS training is incredibly limited, and best suited for manual labor faculties such as mandatory training.

At the end of the day, you have to apply skills and you'll get fairly good with practice. There really isn't a way to gain experience without actually working in the IT field, so if you want to do that then look up some assignments and get with your assignments branch to see about opportunities within a technical field.

Hope this helps.

not a warrant officer but I would find online training and perhaps a part time weekend job where you can put your foot in to that field.

I'd look at https://www.onetonline.org/ and find what it is that you want to do. Once you find that it will tell you "all the thinks" that you need to do for that position. Once you know that you can then work it into your everyday life. Your statement is very broad and you need to try and focus it down to your interests. Reading anything on how to be a good leader will always serve as beneficial. I use Audible to read any chance I have (since I'm to busy to sit and focus) like in the care, on my daily runs, etc... Great place to dive in is at small schools or open source software at home. Take if for what it's worth but that is my advice.