The SOC Pilot Project: Career Pathway in Cybersecurity was a plan announced in 2018 by the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program to connect service members with quality cybersecurity credentials aligned with high-growth careers. It no longer exists: the Department of Defense (DoD) ended the SOC program in March 2019, and we found no published results from the pilot. This page explains what the pilot set out to do and where service members can turn today. If you’re working toward higher education and career success, finding the right support is crucial.
Why Cybersecurity?
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity has become one of the most critical fields. Cyber threats are increasing daily, affecting everything from personal data to national security. This surge in cybercrime has led to a significant demand for skilled professionals who can safeguard information and systems.
For service members, this field offers a natural fit. Military personnel often have experience with security protocols, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of technology—all essential traits for cybersecurity roles. The industry provides job security, competitive salaries, and growth opportunities.
In addition to career opportunities in cybersecurity, service members pursuing higher education may also benefit from academic support. PaperWriter – legit research paper writing services can help those who are juggling both work and study, providing assistance with completing research papers and other academic tasks.
What Is the SOC Pilot Project?
SOC was created in 1972 and funded by DoD to help service members earn college degrees despite frequent moves. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) ran it under a DoD contract until October 2, 2017, when IBM took over its management. In 2018, SOC announced that it was working to launch its first Career Pathway Network pilot, in cybersecurity, to give service members vetted options for preparing for, starting and advancing in a cybersecurity career after military service. SOC said it would share data from the pilot, but on March 29, 2019, DoD sunset SOC’s Degree Network System and its Career and Technical Education list, and the SOC program ended.
Key Components of the Pilot Project
- Collaborating with Industry and Education Partners
- SOC said it had begun collaborating with industry, DoD, and higher education stakeholders on the pilot.
- The goal was to align credentials with the skills and knowledge employers look for when hiring and promoting.
- Creating Stackable Credentials
- The plan called for a set of stackable education options, with credentials that build upon each other.
- Participating schools were to set up program-level articulation agreements so service members could move from one credential to the next.
- This approach was meant to support continuous learning and career advancement.
- Providing Clear Roadmaps
- SOC planned a career roadmap mapped to those stackable education options.
- The roadmap was to show how to start and progress in a cybersecurity career based on current skills, knowledge, and experience.
- We found no published version of the roadmap before the program ended.
How Does It Benefit Service Members?
The SOC Pilot Project was intended to offer these advantages:
- Alignment with Military Experience
- Many skills acquired during military service are directly applicable to cybersecurity.
- The pathway was meant to start from what each service member already knew.
- Quality Education Options
- Credentials were to come only from schools that had signed the DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
- Programs had to show strong student outcomes against SOC’s benchmarks.
- Support in Transitioning
- The stated aim was to help service members move from military service into high-growth civilian careers.
- Today, education counselors at installation education centers and through DANTES fill the advising role.
- Financial Assistance
- The pilot was meant to help service members make better use of their time and voluntary education benefits, such as Tuition Assistance.
- A low loan default rate was one of the benchmarks schools had to meet.
Key Features of the Career Pathway
- Defined Pathways
- A progression model was to show how to start and advance in a cybersecurity career.
- It was to be based on each person’s current skills, knowledge, and experience.
- Trusted Credentials
- Credentials had to meet SOC’s credential-level outcome benchmarks.
- Schools had to show how their curriculum closed the skill and knowledge gaps employers reported.
- Recognition of Prior Learning
- SOC planned to work with participating schools to make the award of American Council on Education (ACE) recommended credit for military courses and work experience more transparent and consistent.
- Credit for prior learning shortens the time needed to earn a credential.
- Emphasis on Soft Skills
- SOC wanted credentials that matched industry skill needs while still developing critical thinking and adaptability.
- These skills are essential for success in cybersecurity roles.
Outcome Benchmarks
SOC listed five credential-level outcome benchmarks that pilot credentials were expected to meet or exceed. SOC said they were consistent with Executive Order 13607 (Principles of Excellence) and Public Law 112-249:
- Completion Rates
- Average completion rates for part-time learners within 8 years of starting the program.
- Retention Rates
- Retention rates for part-time learners.
- Low Loan Default Rates
- The average 5-year loan default rate for independent payers.
- Course Pass Rates
- Pass rates for Tuition Assistance-funded courses at the school.
- Job Placement Rates
- Job placement rates in the field of study within six months of graduation.
- This was a measure schools had to meet, not a job-placement service offered to students.
Aligning with Broader Initiatives
SOC presented the pilot as part of a larger effort to address the skills gap in the economy, alongside initiatives such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management, Lumina Foundation’s Connecting Credentials framework, and the American Council on Education’s work on quality credentials. By preparing service members for high-demand careers, the project aimed to:
- Boost Local and National Economies
- Filling open positions contributes to economic growth.
- Skilled workers enable companies to expand and innovate.
- Support Businesses
- Providing the talent needed allows businesses to take on more work.
- Reduces the bottleneck caused by unfilled positions.
What to Use Instead Today
The pilot is closed, and there is no SOC program to enroll in. Service members interested in a cybersecurity career can use these current resources instead:
- Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL)
- The DoD COOL portal links military occupations to related civilian credentials, including cybersecurity certifications.
- Each branch (Army, Navy, Air Force/Space Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) has its own COOL site with service-specific details.
- DANTES and Your Education Center
- DANTES runs DoD voluntary education programs such as CLEP and DSST credit by exam, TA DECIDE, and counselor support.
- Your installation education center can help you plan a degree or credential.
- Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill
- While serving, you can use military tuition assistance at schools that have signed the DoD MOU.
- See how the military pays for college, including GI Bill benefits after service.
- Joint Services Transcript (JST)
- Order your Joint Services Transcript to show schools the ACE credit recommendations for your military training and experience.
- Ask each school how much of that credit it will apply to your program before you enroll.
Conclusion
The SOC Pilot Project: Career Pathway in Cybersecurity was an attempt to steer service members toward vetted, stackable cybersecurity credentials with strong outcomes. It was announced in 2018 but ended with the SOC program in March 2019, and we found no published results from it.
Its core ideas are still available through other tools: COOL for certifications, the Joint Services Transcript for credit, and Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill to pay for school.
Your Next Step
If you’re a service member interested in cybersecurity, start with your branch’s COOL site and your education center, then read our guide to college classes on active duty.