.jpg?sfvrsn=646c2749_2 "military blog 9.17 (1)")
Throughout the first eight months of 2024, Dr. James Stanger, Chief Technology Evangelist at CompTIA, had conversations with individuals from the United States, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Thailand, and the UK to understand the nuances in various regions.
These conversations uncovered that despite their shared expertise, military personnel transitioning into private sector roles face unique challenges and opportunities across different regions. Dr. Stanger’s conversations also revealed diverse priorities –from fostering global partnerships and protecting critical infrastructure to identifying in-demand job roles and applying sophisticated data analytics and cybersecurity tactics.
Across all regions, a common thread emerged: the importance of curiosity, the pursuit of relevant technical skills, and the ability to convey one’s expertise effectively to employers, signaling they have the skills to succeed.
Regional influences on military personnel after service
From conversations with leaders in Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom, workers need to demonstrate the ability to partner with anyone around the world; taking the Mission Partner Environment (MPE) mentality that allows militaries to work with any trusted partner in the private sector is incredibly important for them.
In Thailand and Australia, there is a strong focus on protecting critical infrastructure and Operational Technology (OT). This includes everything from water and power systems to financial systems (e.g., ATMs and network support). In fact, people in Thailand’s financial sector expressed a keen interest in former Thai military cybersecurity professionals.
In the United States, many workers are keen on identifying the most in-demand job roles and relevant education pathways, which could be tied to the recent U.S. skill-based hiring initiative.
In the United Kingdom, there is a particular interest in applying sophisticated data analytics skills in cybersecurity. This focus aligns with the goals of both military Signal Corps and private-sector companies, which aim to protect data at rest and in transit in an increasingly post-quantum world.
Each region also has common goals when looking for candidates that will add value to their organization and business operations. Two common themes that emerged include:
A sense of curiosity: This is by far the primary job skill for the private sector. Cybersecurity leaders in every industry sector from the consumer sector (Coca-Cola, Tesco), fintech (State Farm, Mastercard), the tech sector (AWS, Google) entertainment (Netflix, Disney), healthcare (AstraZeneca, National Healthcare), to transportation (Nissan, United Parcel Service), are looking for workers that have a passion for learning not only technical knowledge but also but how businesses use tech.
Proof of relevant technical skill: Experience is everything. Most individuals throughout these regions believe that having a certification from a respected third party was an essential first step. It was clear that in the U.S., Australia, Japan, and the UK, “portability” is vital. This means workers need the ability to send out the right signal regarding their skillset. From understanding critical networking protocols to understanding Identity Access Management (IAM) in the cloud, and overcoming shadow artificial intelligence IT, portability is the primary concern, and certification provides this portability.
If you’re looking to dive into the private sector, each country has its own resources you can dive into. For example, the U.S. military created the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Meanwhile, the UK has the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) program.
Many of these conversations were with groups that work either directly or very closely with the Signal Corps in their respective countries. Signal Corps soldiers spend their time helping their militaries communicate efficiently and securely. They know intimate details about managing information technology, from radio sets to sophisticated data fabric and data mesh networks. And while they all perform similar tasks, when it comes to transitioning from the military to the public sector, there are also significant differences in each group.
Start your transition into tech with CompTIA
As a globally respected tech education provider, CompTIA also offers valuable resources to guide you through this journey. Our detailed military career switcher blog provides a comprehensive overview to help you choose the right training and certifications program to help you transition into the IT workforce.
You can also use the CompTIA Career Change quiz as your starting point. This quiz takes an in-depth look at your interests, helping you make informed decisions about your next career move.
If you’re planning on attending the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific event, we invite you to join in on our planned session to learn more about how to make the switch from military services to the private sector.
If you’d like more information about our work helping ex-military and public sector workers join the private workforce around the world, you can contact Dr. James Stanger at jstanger@comptia.org or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstanger.
Contributors to this blog include CompTIA’s James Stanger, Chief Technology Evangelist
