Why Veterans Are the Answer to Cybersecurity’s Talent Problem

https://www.cybersecurity-insiders.com/why-veterans-are-the-answer-to-cybersecuritys-talent-problem/

Publish Date: 2026-06-12 04:45:00

Source Domain: www.cybersecurity-insiders.com

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Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.

Grant Gibson joined the Marine Corps in his mid-twenties. That was a little later than most of his peers, but he was excited to serve. He worked his way up to the position of Communications Chief during his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
When he got home, he transitioned into a new career path. His experience operating under pressure, troubleshooting mission-critical communications systems, and performing in high-stakes environments is what eventually led him into IT and cybersecurity.
So how did Gibson go from working on drones and radios in the Middle East to a career in cybersecurity? He credits his military service for teaching him essential skills.
“For two deployments I served on the bomb squad, which served to be good life experience. The fact that my day-to-day was unpredictable and spur of the moment made me more detail oriented,” he said in an article from Authority Magazine.
Now, Gibson serves as a Lead Instructor in the Cyber Warrior Program at MyComputerCareer, where he shows other Veterans how to transition into a cybersecurity career. Gibson knows that Veterans are hard workers, and they could be the perfect answer to the industry’s cybersecurity talent shortage.
“For the most part, our veteran graduates report feeling not just prepared, but often more prepared than their peers who have come through more traditional academic routes. The hands-on, practical skills learned in our 12-week program translate directly to the daily tasks in a security operations environment,” Gibson said in a Dark Reading article.
Cybersecurity Demand Is Outpacing Supply
The cybersecurity workforce gap isn’t a future concern. It’s a current business problem affecting organizations of every size. In fact, employers posted more than 514,000 cybersecurity job openings during the 12 months ending in June 2025.
The need isn’t expected to slow anytime soon. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for information security analysts will grow 29% between 2024 and 2034, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country.
Organizations are already feeling the effects. In the 2025 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 88% of cybersecurity professionals reported that their organizations experienced at least one significant consequence tied to workforce shortages. Those consequences included increased workloads, slower response times, and greater difficulty managing cyber risk.
At a time when cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated and more frequent, organizations are competing for enough talent to keep pace with the threat landscape. That’s why employers may be overlooking one of the most qualified talent pools available: military veterans.
Military Skills Meet Cybersecurity Needs
The connection between military service and cybersecurity isn’t as large a leap as many people assume.
Cybersecurity professionals spend their days analyzing incomplete information, identifying potential threats, solving complex technical problems, and making decisions under pressure. Those same skills are embedded throughout military training and operations.
“Anyone in the military is used to troubleshooting. The military has an ingrained troubleshooting process. And much of IT, at the end of the day, is solving problems,” said Gibson in a WRAL News article.
Veterans also bring something that is increasingly difficult to teach: adaptability. Military personnel routinely learn new systems, technologies, and procedures throughout their careers. They’re trained to operate in environments where information changes rapidly and mistakes can carry significant consequences.
Many veterans already possess experience that directly aligns with cybersecurity work. Military MOS roles that map directly to cybersecurity include Signal Corps, intelligence analysts, communications specialists, and cyber operations roles like Army 17C and Navy CTN. People who have served in these positions often have experience managing secure networks, protecting sensitive information, monitoring communications systems, and responding to operational incidents.
Even Veterans whose military occupations were not explicitly technical frequently develop the critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and situational awareness employers increasingly value in cybersecurity teams.
The challenge isn’t a lack of transferable skills. More often, it’s translating military experience into language civilian employers immediately recognize.
The Advantage You Can’t Learn in a Classroom
For many cybersecurity roles, trust is just as important as technical expertise.
Government agencies, defense contractors, and organizations supporting critical infrastructure often require employees to hold security clearances. Obtaining those clearances can be expensive and time-consuming, with investigations frequently taking a year and a half to complete.
Veterans who already hold active or recently expired clearances can often bypass lengthy background checks entirely, moving directly into roles that require high levels of trust and confidentiality.
Private-sector companies frequently pay a premium for candidates who already hold clearances, giving Veterans a built-in competitive edge before certifications even enter the picture. That head start can be particularly valuable in a hiring market where organizations are struggling to fill open positions. Rather than waiting for a lengthy background investigation to conclude, employers can onboard qualified Veterans and get them contributing sooner.
The Bridge Between Service and Cybersecurity
Military experience provides an exceptional foundation for cybersecurity careers, but Veterans usually still need more to get in the door.
Most employers evaluate cybersecurity candidates using a combination of technical skills, certifications, and work experience. Veterans often bring extensive operational experience and proven problem-solving ability. The missing piece is frequently industry-recognized certification.
Credentials such as CompTIA Security+, Network+, and CySA+ help translate military experience into qualifications that hiring managers immediately understand. Security+ is particularly important because it satisfies baseline requirements for many federal and defense-related cybersecurity positions.
The good news is veterans don’t have to navigate that transition alone. Programs funded through the GI Bill, VET TEC, and other workforce development initiatives can help cover training and certification costs while preparing veterans for civilian cybersecurity careers.
For many service members, certifications are the perfect way to bridge the gap between the skills they have and the jobs that companies need to fill.
A Win for Employers and Veterans
The cybersecurity workforce shortage is real, but so is the talent available within the veteran community.
Organizations searching for cybersecurity professionals often focus on traditional talent pipelines such as four-year degree programs or experienced industry hires. Those pipelines remain important, but they aren’t producing enough qualified candidates to meet demand.
Veterans offer a different path. They arrive with experience operating in high-pressure environments, working with sensitive information, following established procedures, and adapting to rapidly changing situations. Many already possess technical experience. Some hold active security clearances. Nearly all understand accountability and mission focus.
Federal agencies have increasingly recognized this opportunity. Programs such as DoD SkillBridge help service members begin preparing for civilian careers before they leave active duty, creating a smoother transition into fields like cybersecurity.
The workforce gap and the Veteran talent pool are often discussed as separate challenges. In reality, they may be two sides of the same solution.
The talent exists, the demand exists, and the bridge between them is shorter than many employers realize.
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About:
Grant Gibson is a Lead Instructor at MyComputerCareer. Leveraging years of experience as a U.S. Marine Corps Communications Chief, he helps service members successfully transition into rewarding careers in IT and cybersecurity.