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The VA Office of Information and Technology is opening the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program for Veterans (CAPV), a paid, Department of Labor-registered, 2.5-year pathway that prepares honorably discharged Veterans for roles as Cyber Defense Analysts, and the next cohort is scheduled to start in January 2027, as first reported by VA News. The program begins at the GS-9 level, includes in-person, hands-on rotations at the VA Cybersecurity Operations Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and advances apprentices to GS-11 and GS-12 on successful completion. Veterans with a technical occupational series may apply; the program is highly competitive with limited space.
Key takeaways
- Program length and credential: The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program for Veterans is a paid, Department of Labor-registered, 2.5-year apprenticeship.
- Start date and location: The FY27 cohort is scheduled to start in January 2027 with in-person training at the VA Cybersecurity Operations Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
- Entry grade and progression: Apprentices begin at the GS-9 level and can progress to GS-11 and GS-12 upon successful completion.
- Who may apply: Honorably discharged United States Veterans who served in a technical occupational series are eligible; no prior cybersecurity experience is required.
Table of contents
How the apprenticeship trains Veterans on the job
The program pairs on-the-job assignments at the VA Cybersecurity Operations Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with classroom instruction and individualized mentoring. Apprentices cycle through operational units that handle reporting, technical services, incident response, vulnerability scanning and threat intelligence, giving them exposure to several mission areas before they select a permanent role.
Participants are given real duties starting on day one and are integrated as full members of their teams. Officials at the VA Office of Information and Technology say mentoring apprentices helps re-energize experienced staff and improve overall team performance.
Eligibility, selection and how to apply
Only honorably discharged United States Veterans who have worked in a technical occupational series are eligible; the VA does not require candidates to have prior cybersecurity experience. The program is highly competitive and has limited space, so meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.
Details on how to apply for the FY27 class are posted on the Careers in IT website (digital.va.gov/careers). The VA Office of Information and Technology says the next cohort is scheduled to begin in January 2027; interested Veterans are advised to monitor the Careers in IT page for official announcements about applications.
Pay, terms and career progression
Apprentices enter the program at the GS-9 level and the apprenticeship runs for two and a half years. On successful completion the program moves participants through career progression to GS-11 and GS-12, positioning graduates for Cyber Defense Analyst roles within VA.
The apprenticeship is paid throughout its 2.5-year duration and is registered with the Department of Labor. The structured model includes formal technical instruction, hands-on assignments, mentoring and skills assessments to support movement through the GS steps on completion.
What on-site training in Martinsburg looks like
Training takes place at the VA Cybersecurity Operations Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where apprentices work alongside experienced analysts. The program emphasises practical exposure: rotations across incident response, vulnerability scanning, threat intelligence and technical services let apprentices test different roles and find the best fit.
VA frames the experience as more than observation: apprentices receive formal instruction plus one-on-one mentoring and real responsibilities. The inaugural CAPV class completed its program in August 2026, demonstrating the model has moved from pilot to operating cohort.
Positive and negative drivers for the program's impact
The case for
- Provides a steady pipeline of trained Cyber Defense Analysts into VA by converting military technical experience into federal cybersecurity roles.
- On-the-job rotations and one-on-one mentoring accelerate practical readiness for operational teams, and VA reports that mentoring apprentices has re-energized experienced cybersecurity staff.
- Department of Labor registration gives the apprenticeship a formal credential that supports federal career progression from GS-9 to GS-12.
The case against
- Limited space and a highly competitive selection process may leave many eligible Veterans unable to secure a slot.
- The requirement to train in person at Martinsburg, West Virginia, creates a geographic barrier for applicants who cannot relocate for the 2.5-year program.
- Eligibility limited to Veterans who served in a technical occupational series excludes some otherwise interested Veterans without that background.
What to be careful about
- The program has limited space and is highly competitive, so qualifying Veterans may still be unable to join.
- Mandatory in-person training in Martinsburg, West Virginia may be infeasible for Veterans who cannot relocate.
- Requirement that applicants have served in a technical occupational series may exclude Veterans with nontechnical service who want into cybersecurity.
The bottom line
The CAPV program offers a structured, paid route for Veterans with technical service to enter federal cybersecurity work as Cyber Defense Analysts. It pairs in-person, operational rotations at the VA Cybersecurity Operations Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with formal instruction, mentoring and Department of Labor registration across a 2.5-year apprenticeship that begins at GS-9 and leads to GS-11 and GS-12 on completion. Veterans interested in the FY27 cohort should monitor Careers in IT for application details and note that space is limited and selection is competitive.
What to watch
- Watch for the FY27 cohort to begin in January 2027.
- Watch Careers in IT (digital.va.gov/careers) for the official application posting; no application date was provided.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the VA cybersecurity apprenticeship?
Eligibility is for honorably discharged United States Veterans who served in a technical occupational series; no prior cybersecurity experience is required and the program trains candidates from the ground up.
How long is the apprenticeship and what pay grade do apprentices start at?
The apprenticeship runs for two and a half years and apprentices enter at the GS-9 level; successful completion can move participants to GS-11 and GS-12.
Where does the training take place and when does the next cohort start?
Training is in person at the VA Cybersecurity Operations Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the FY27 cohort is scheduled to start in January 2027.
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