“I wanted something translatable on the outside,” Samantha recalls. That’s when she found ECPI University. “I wanted to start my degree before leaving the Navy,” she explains. “ECPI provided a bridge between my military and civilian life, giving me direction, structure, and the skills to confidently take my next steps.”

Samantha chose ECPI University because of its hands-on, career-focused curriculum and year-round accelerated programs. The fast-paced, five-week courses mirrored the efficiency she was accustomed to in the military, while the hybrid and online class options allowed her to balance work, school, and personal life. “The way ECPI is set up fits so well with the military mindset,” she says. “You’re learning what you need to know to do the job, and you’re doing it quickly and efficiently.”

Through her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Cybersecurity at ECPI University, Samantha gained real-world skills in incident response, cyber threat hunting, and ethical hacking. ECPI’s virtual labs and simulated environments helped her translate classroom knowledge into practical expertise. “It’s not just learning theory—you’re doing the work,” Samantha emphasizes.

As she transitioned to her first civilian role—a contracting position focused on incident response for Navy networks—Samantha found herself applying what she’d learned at ECPI almost daily. “It’s a fast-evolving field,” she explains. “And ECPI prepared me for that by focusing on what’s relevant, cutting out the fluff, and teaching the skills I needed to succeed.”

Surrounded by classmates and instructors who understood her military background, she felt supported and understood. “Having that shared language and experience made a huge difference,” she recalls. “It helped me relate to the material and feel confident moving forward.”

Today, Samantha is a Cybersecurity Analyst, specializing in incident response and cyber threat hunting. She continues to push herself, earning industry certifications like CISSP and Security+, and plans to pursue even more in the future. “Cybersecurity is constantly changing,” she says. “You have to keep learning, and ECPI set me up for that mindset.”

For anyone considering a career in cybersecurity, Samantha’s advice is clear: “You don’t just need the degree; you need the hands-on experience, the network, and the confidence to adapt. ECPI gives you all of that and more.”

“Veterans come from a common background. Even though the branches served may be different, we know what each other has been through. I can guarantee you that someone else has been through the same transition,” shares Bill Brown, Executive Director of Military Education at ECPI University and a retired U.S. Army veteran. “At ECPI University, we understand the unique bond among veterans—a connection that cements the commitment to succeed together. We know how to help! Reach out to military@ecpi.edu.”

ECPI University has 18 campuses located in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas as well as classes online. Since its founding in 1966, more than 100,000 students have graduated from ECPI University and entered top companies in their field. More than 30% of ECPI University students and over 10% of the faculty and staff are military members. ECPI University is recognized by Military Times as the #1 Best for Vets, Career and Technical Colleges.

When they leave the service, many veterans take advantage of benefits such as the GI Bill to earn a college degree, build upon their existing education or gain certifications that will help them in their chosen civilian career.

But navigating all of the options can be confusing and time-consuming. Veterans have to decide what education they want to pursue, what their benefits will cover, whether they can share or transfer benefits to spouses or children and even whether they want to attend classes in-person or remote, with all of these choices having their pros and cons. While the military provides transition assistance programs, the final decision is up to each individual veteran, and the number of decisions to make can be overwhelming.

In this webcast, Military Times explored how veterans can navigate higher education after their time in the service, including determining the right career path, understanding educational benefits and what veterans need to know before their first day of classes.

Watch Recording:

Guest Speakers:

• Kevin O’Neil, Senior Policy Associate, American Legion
• Victor Inzunza, Policy Analyst, Swords to Plowshares
• LTC William E. Brown (Ret.), U.S. Army, Executive Director, ECPI University