AI classes and certifications for veterans

If you are a veteran or active duty service member looking to take advantage of the benefits that you have accrued as part of the armed forces, you likely qualify for support for high-quality professional training through the Forever GI Bill and other associated government programs. This training is aimed at helping veterans return to civilian life while learning productive and useful skills that will help them find gainful employment in a wide range of different fields. One of these fields that veterans may want to consider is artificial intelligence since the booming AI industry is in a state of flux, meaning that it is a great place to get in on the ground floor and take advantage of the training that you will receive as a service member.

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Why should veterans learn AI?

Artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, LLMs, generative image creation programs, and other associated technologies are part of the rising tide of new technologies that are poised to reshape almost every industry that they touch. As a result, there is a hiring boom for professionals who can make use of these AI technologies and provide companies with practical, actionable support in integrating ML and AI tools into their regular workflow. If you want to get a jumpstart on a high-paying profession at the cutting edge of new, global technological shifts, learning AI is probably the best way you can meet that goal.

Artificial intelligence-related jobs, particularly those related to data science, are in high demand, and the salaries are built to accommodate this demand. Nationally, Data Scientists earn an average of about $130,000 annually, with variance based on location and region (NYC and San Francisco will see higher salaries to balance a higher cost of living), which is significantly above the national average for most professionals. Now, this kind of role requires a lot of training since you’ll need to learn data science, coding, and a smattering of other related skills, but veterans can apply their benefits to accelerated professional training programs that aim to help them develop the skills they need in as little as a few months, letting veterans get right back into the workforce in a high paying position without needing to spend years earning a college degree.

This is one of the primary reasons that veterans should consider these kinds of programs. The function of the GI Bill is to provide support for veterans to catch up to the training that college students received and veterans turned down to serve their country. Professional training programs, particularly those for in-demand fields like AI and data science, are perfect for veterans who want to quickly return to the workforce and get caught up with their cohort of non-veterans.

AI is a particularly good place to start because it is a valuable skill in almost all fields and industries, meaning that no matter what you want to do upon returning to civilian life, you are likely to be able to apply your AI training to that work. For instance, if you are a creative type who wants to pursue a career in graphic design, you’ll want to learn how to use AI assistants like Adobe Firefly to streamline your design process. If you want to work in finance, it will pay dividends to learn how AI can help you analyze large amounts of financial data and how it can help organize everything from simple spreadsheets to complex financial reports. If you are in a remotely data-related field, whether it is online marketing or sports and fitness, AI tools are becoming more and more essential to the operation of those professions, so learning how to use them can be an important part of setting yourself apart from the crowd when looking for a job.

Support for veterans looking to learn AI

As a veteran, you have a wide range of support options made available to you through the Forever GI Bill and a series of associated government programs. These benefits include financial support for secondary education to provide veterans with a leg up once they return to the civilian workforce at the completion of their service. Some of the most common veteran benefits include:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33): May cover up to 36 months of education, including tuition and fees and a stipend for supplies.
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E/Chapter 31): Can offer up to 48 months of support for qualified veterans, including full tuition, required materials, and a monthly subsistence allowance.
• Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35): May be available to spouses and dependents of qualifying veterans to provide financial aid for approved programs.
• Eligibility Guidelines: Each program has requirements related to service dates and discharge status; use the VA Comparison Tool or contact the VA for details.
• Additional Options: Eligible students may access supplementary funding through Tuition Assistance Top-Up or the Montgomery GI Bill $600 Buy-Up program.

Approved programs undergo rigorous screening and testing to ensure that they provide veterans with practical, career-driven results and that enrolling in these programs provides a net benefit to the service members who complete them. Approved programs have a track record of success and have provided the VA with substantive evidence of the efficacy of their program in terms of both content and outcome.

These support options will vary from program to program, so you should consult with your local VA office in order to determine what benefits you qualify for and how they can be applied to your present and future training opportunities. Some courses may only be partially covered or have limitations and/or restrictions on how benefits can be applied. For example, chapter 33 benefits require students to take a program that qualifies as being “hybrid” or in-person, while other benefit variants may allow students to learn fully online. It’s important for veterans to contact their VA counselors to make sure their selected program is approved for funding.

There are also comprehensive guides to the best AI classes in NYC and across the U.S. that cover some of the top offerings for training. Researching with these guides is an ideal way to learn more about the different providers and what courses they offer, as well as information on learning AI as a whole. Taking the time to dive into the different course options and looking through the curriculum will help to make sure you find the best program to align with your goals.