NSA Grant for Free Cyber Workforce Training and Certification(USA Citizens Only

[ashkir]

I heard back from Ivy Tech I was invited to the wrong course LOL. \o/ They fixed my assessments.

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I recommend following the instructions that you should have received via email. I have no idea what you're talking about at this point.

I emailed them because I ended up getting invitations for other things. Apparently I received the invitation for the wrong course.

[MNomadic]

I heard back from Ivy Tech I was invited to the wrong course LOL. \o/ They fixed my assessments.

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I recommend following the instructions that you should have received via email. I have no idea what you're talking about at this point.

I emailed them because I ended up getting invitations for other things. Apparently I received the invitation for the wrong course.

That's kind of funny. Glad you were able to sort it out. I had no idea why you were going off about some of that stuff.

[jamshid666]

*Disclaimer: They're prioritizing military/veterans but also law enforcement/first responders, and females/minorities. It doesn't hurt to apply, but those are the main groups they're targetting.*

The program itself is being run by a collaboration of several colleges/universities. The site I signed up on is through Purdue University Northwest, but it looks like my initial courses will be through Ivy Tech. 

There are 3 tracks. Each includes 6 courses but 3 are standard across all the programs. 

Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity System Administration

Cybersecurity Digital Forensics

Main Program Page

FAQs

That seems like an awesome program!  I've applied and shared with some fellow veterans at work.  The funny thing is, the link was blocked at work. Apparently Purdue is considered a risky site by our security folks, so here's the same program linked from UNC-Charlotte: Free Cybersecurity Workforce Certification Training | CyberDNA Center | UNC Charlotte[url=https://cyberdna.uncc.edu/free-cybersecurity-workforce-certification-training][/url]

[BrianFallon]

That's pretty ridiculous. A transcript, especially a recent transcript, should be more than sufficient to prove that you have those skills.

Yeah. I Tried talking with their program manager. Didn't go over so well. They're like "no you have to do these". I told her I have the skills, etc, I don't want to sit for entire tests etc. 

They're asking for over 50x the data that UMPI asked for as well. They want everything about you. Passport, ID's, full birth certificate, social security, a credit statement, previous background checks, full employer checks, they asked me for an employer recommendation for the program, full college transcripts, high school transcripts, etc. They're asking for a lot . 

I have feel like this is just an NSA data harvesting project to show how gullible Americans are.

I was out too. The list of stuff they wanted was very extensive. Almost like a mini SF86.

Glad I’m not the only one that said..”yea…nope.”
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[CalicoMama]

Can you send me a screenshot of your requirements? Did you do the artificial intelligence path. I want to ask why mine are different.

I signed up for the sysadmin path since it includes CEH, though the ai one seems more exciting to me. It's possible that they had higher math requirements for your path. 

The math topics on my assessment were:
Factoring
Solving Equations and Inequalities
Exponents and Polynomials
Graphing
Rational Expressions
Radical Expressions and Quadratic Equations
Functions

The assessment actually ended when I hit the required minimum score so I didn't get questions on every single subtopic. 

When I was doing the application, I skipped sending transcripts thinking I'd have another opportunity later but they never asked. When I spoke with the rep that told me about the program, he later told me that despite the written requirements all I really needed to submit to get started was my passport and DD214. It's possible they bumped up the requirements after I applied(roughly 2 weeks before posting about it). It's also possible they have different requirements for non-military/veterans. I was never asked for "a credit statement, previous background checks, full employer checks, or an employer recommendation for the program." I also only submitted a passport vs birth cert/SS card. I think I did submit my resume and LinkedIn profile, though. I just submitted a picture of my HS diploma, no transcripts.

Thank you for the list. I now know what to study for (been out of school for couple of decades, don't remember anything). I applied and I was told they have closed the Fall pilot session and opening up for the January/Winter session. I have to take English and STEM (Math) assessments on Ivytech website. Due to grant based program, there's no waiver. 

I had to provide them my resume, passport and college transcript when I applied. But I applied as a civilian woman with no military background.

[jamshid666]

I've made it to Step 3 in the process, I've no idea how many steps there are to get to the fun part. Step 3 involved me taking the English and Math assessments this evening. Easy enough process, though I will admit to being a bit rusty with Algebra. I've passed both requirements and I'm back to waiting for whatever comes up next. I still don't feel like this was a mini SF86 as others have stated.

[RiverM]

Update to my application - made it to the Math and English placer tests, also was given some IT related placements.

Unfortunately, I've lost a LOT of math and English in the past 5 years. Guess it's time to go refresh myself with their study tracks. I also admit, I didn't quite take them as seriously as I should have and did a lot of not-so-educated guessing.

I'd recommend having a couple hours set aside for the English and about an hour for the Math/STEM. Haven't done the IT placement yet.

[jamshid666]

I just finished the IT placement exam. A lot of programming stuff on the second exam, which I don't normally do, but I passed both. Waiting to see what they throw at me next.

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Update to my application - made it to the Math and English placer tests, also was given some IT related placements.

Unfortunately, I've lost a LOT of math and English in the past 5 years. Guess it's time to go refresh myself with their study tracks. I also admit, I didn't quite take them as seriously as I should have and did a lot of not-so-educated guessing.

I'd recommend having a couple hours set aside for the English and about an hour for the Math/STEM. Haven't done the IT placement yet.

I did fine on the English one, but had to do study tracks on the Math one.  I totally forgot how to do trinomial factoring, been too many moons since I've had to deal with that.

[MNomadic]

I just finished the IT placement exam.  A lot of programming stuff on the second exam, which I don't normally do, but I passed both. Waiting to see what they throw at me next.

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I think you're good to go now. They should be reaching out soon(or you email them) to get signed up for classes. Based on how many transferrable certs you have already, you should only have a few classes left.

[RiverM]

I just finished the IT placement exam.  A lot of programming stuff on the second exam, which I don't normally do, but I passed both. Waiting to see what they throw at me next.

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I think you're good to go now. They should be reaching out soon(or you email them) to get signed up for classes. Based on how many transferrable certs you have already, you should only have a few classes left.

Have you figured out how they assign you to a track? I haven't been able to figure much out about that.