I keep seeing vets get faster callbacks by knocking out Sec+ and Network+ in about 90 days, then sliding into OJT with a DoD contractor instead of waiting on a two-year program. If you’ve paired GI Bill or VR&E with a short cert plus employer tuition assistance, what combo moved the needle for you?
I used VR&E to cover Sec+ (6 weeks) and Splunk Core User, then took a Tier 1 SOC role with a DoD contractor; their $5k/yr tuition paid my first WGU term so I kept my GI Bill intact. Caveat: if you already have solid networking from the service, skip Net+ and do CCNA later — “Sec+ first” clears 8570 faster. If you need vouchers, Syracuse’s O2O has free CompTIA/Splunk paths: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/onward-to-opportunity/.
Quick win for me was pairing Sec+ with ITIL 4 Foundation instead of Net+. Both fit inside that “90 days” and got me into a DoD help desk; my contractor’s $6k/yr tuition covered my first UMGC term so I kept GI Bill banked, @OP. If you’re eyeing cloud, swap ITIL for AWS CCP.