How Veterans can reinvent themselves with NPower to break into tech with top companies

Veterans get the job done, and companies know that. Now more than ever, top companies like Boeing and Deloitte want to fill their ranks with Veterans because they value their discipline, commitment and pressure-tested skill sets. Many Veterans, however, lack the platform to effectively engage with these top employers. Additionally, many Veterans struggle to re-orient themselves to the civilian work culture after years of operating in a structured, hierarchical organization.

NPower provides a proven solution to that struggle

The NPower’s instructors’ expertise, combined with the job placement team’s support, enable you to earn industry-level tech certifications to land positions with some of the top firms in the country, like Accenture, Northrop Grumman and even SpaceX.

NPower is a 501C3 nonprofit organization focused on providing free tech training and certifications to Veterans, their spouses and young adults from underserved communities. The NPower team understands that life goes on when you enroll in a training or academic program of any kind. That’s why NPower provides social support services and professional development in a platoon-size cohort, with instructors and staff available to guide and assist you through graduation and beyond.

The next NPower tech fundamentals course begins on Feb. 5, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to apply by Jan. 26 to ensure ample time to go through the interview process. The program can be completed in less than five months, with job placement assistance on the back end. Veterans living in California, Texas, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Michigan, North Carolina or Ohio are encouraged to apply. NPower works in specific regions to foster ties with agencies, mentors and employment partners, as well as to enable community-based help. The organization plans to continue its expansion in the future. Click here to learn more.

It’s not too late

Porfirio Lopez desired a fresh start that offered the same challenge, discipline and camaraderie that he had experienced in the Army—something that allowed him to feel like he was a part of something bigger than himself. As he thought about the future beyond the military, he considered a career in law enforcement. “I thought it was going to be the next big opportunity for me,” he said. “But it didn’t quite go to plan.”

Lopez was always interested in computers and reached out to a military friend to talk through his options. He was worried that he may be too late in the game to begin a tech career, but the conversation turned to NPower, and he felt hopeful. He decided to apply to the tech fundamentals program in Dallas and was immediately accepted. While at NPower, he learned the computer basics, and at the same time, acquired the professional development needed to land a tech role.

Since his time in the program, Lopez has completed an internship and accepted the position of Compliance Risk Management Associate Analyst at Citi.

Lopez was nervous that his window into tech had passed, he noted “I thought I was too late to start but NPower proved otherwise.” He added, “I’m grateful for the opportunity NPower has provided me to set myself up for success.”

NPower connects you with companies that see you have value

Rasheda Walker’s journey wasn’t easy, as she balanced motherhood, employment and completion of her Army Reserve training during her time in the program. She credits the support and flexibility of the NPower Texas team, combined with the grit and determination from her military training, as factors that enabled her to succeed in the program.

“My plan for NPower was just to get a job… and some technical skills. I entered into a program that has changed my life. A program that says we’re investing in you as a person,” Walker said. “Everyone who’s made NPower possible has truly made an impact on not just the trainees’ lives but their families.”

Armed with new technical skills and certifications, Walker is now an information technology apprentice at Citi and is continuing to create the life she envisioned for herself and her son.

Classes are also offered in cybersecurity and cloud computing

NPower has been preparing young adults from underserved communities and military-connected people for employment in technology for over a decade. Veterans living in California, Texas, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Michigan, North Carolina or Ohio who have received an honorable discharge are eligible to enroll in the free program. Tech fundamentals are taught to trainees by instructors through a combination of face-to-face and virtual instruction. Additionally, NPower provides advanced courses in cybersecurity and cloud computing.

NPower’s ability to provide all these programs and services for free is done through the generous grants received from various donors who all want to aid in the NPower mission.

“As a Veteran, I can relate to the feeling of being given a lot of empty promises, but NPower is the real deal. They want to see you succeed,” said Sergey Zabarin, a retired Marine and the National Recruitment & Admissions Manager at NPower. “It’s five months of your time, and you’re on a pathway to success. Once you graduate NPower, you can feel proud that you accomplished something that creates a new pathway for your life.”

Apply today here.