My journey from military service to Infrastructure Network Engineering
After eight years in the military—three in the Iowa National Guard as a 25B (Information Technology Specialist) and five as Active Duty in the Army as an 11B Infantryman—MSSA alumni Caleb B. found himself nearing the end of his contract with considerable uncertainty. This is his transition story.
I have always loved technology and had hands on experience working with Cisco-based networks from early in my National Guard career. However, years in the infantry had taken me far away from the world of IT. Still, that interest never really faded. I just wasn’t sure how to get back into the field.
Finding my path back to tech
Everything changed when a fellow soldier told me about the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA). I applied, and when I received my acceptance email it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. MSSA wasn’t just training—it was a roadmap out of the unknown. It gave me structure, a cohort of peers who were transitioning just like I was, and a way to rebuild the technical confidence I had lost while focusing on Infantry tasks.
I enrolled in the Server and Cloud Administration (SCA) learning path, which was exactly what I needed to get back in the game. I was able to rebuild my foundational networking knowledge while gaining hands-on experience with virtualization, cloud environments, automation, identity management, and more. The labs pushed me, the projects challenged me, and the professional development side helped me understand how to tell my story in a way that made sense to civilian employers.
More than anything, MSSA helped me reconnect with my technical side. It reminded me that I still had the potential to work in technology at a high level. Shortly after graduating, that confidence paid off in a tangible way.
Turning opportunity into a new career
My connection with RSM started with something simple: a LinkedIn message. I was searching for IT roles in my hometown when I came across an IT Director from RSM and decided to reach out. I asked if they had an IT position available or upcoming opportunities in network engineering.
What I didn’t know at the time was that he was part of the RSM Network Optimization and Projects Team. He responded, told me about a potential opportunity, and asked if I wanted to meet and discuss my experience.
Before the meeting, I contacted my Career Development Manager (CDM) from MSSA for some additional support planning a professional yet memorable approach to my call with the IT Director. The guidance I received made a huge difference in how I presented in this important meeting.
When I met with RSM, I shared my background working in Cisco environments as an Information Technology Specialist in the Iowa National Guard, the skills I rebuilt during MSSA, and my passion for homelabbing—building virtual labs and testing new architectures and deepening my understanding of cloud networking.
The discussion went extremely well! The team from RSM was impressed with my passion for networking and the hands-on experience I’d had as an Information Technology specialist. They were also excited with how I was able to communicate my networking knowledge and understand the networking architecture that I now work with on a daily basis.
My CDM stayed closely involved throughout the interview process, offering support even after my MSSA graduation. This consistent mentorship helped me feel confident and supported every step of the job search. When I received the offer to join RSM as an Infrastructure Network Engineer, it felt like everything I had worked toward had finally come together.
Working as an Infrastructure Network Engineer
People often ask what my work looks like now. The simplest way I explain it is to help keep the “digital highways” running.
Every email, cloud app, shared file, or video call relies on a stable, secure network to function reliably. My job is to ensure that those networks stay healthy. Some days I’m diagnosing complex routing, switching, or wireless issues; other days I’m configuring or upgrading firewalls, switches, or access points. I also get to design new network deployments and support clients across different industries. No two days are ever the same, and that variety keeps the work exciting.
Building off my military experience
My military experience shaped the way I work more than I expected. My time as an Information Technology Specialist in the Iowa National Guard gave me early exposure to networking and Cisco environments. My years as an Army Infantryman taught me discipline, resilience, communication, and how to stay calm under pressure—skills that translate directly to IT. When a client is experiencing a network outage or a critical issue, things can get tense quickly. Being able to break down problems, communicate clearly, and stay focused is something the military instilled in me, and it’s become one of my greatest strengths as a network engineer.
Looking back and paying it forward
As I settled into my new role with RSM, I reached back out to my CDM to ask whether RSM was a Corporate Partner with MSSA (Corporate Partners are companies that hire directly from the MSSA program). And at the time, we were not—a realization that sparked a new motivation in me, to help create opportunities for future cohorts and connect them to an employer that understood the value of military service as professional experience and supported me while I learned the ropes of a new career path.
So, I initiated conversations at Microsoft and at RSM to discuss a partnership. It felt like a way to give back—to connect two organizations that care deeply about helping veterans build meaningful careers in technology. And now that RSM is a MSSA Corporate Partner, I can’t wait until the day I realize I’m working alongside another veteran that found their path to IT through MSSA.
Looking back, I never imagined I would be working in network engineering at a national scale, supporting clients across the country and solving real-world challenges every day. MSSA helped me rebuild my skills and confidence, and RSM gave me a platform to grow and do what I love. For anyone leaving the military and unsure about their next step, I hope my story shows that with the right training and support, you can build a future far beyond what you ever expected.
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Caleb was a MSSA participant in 2024, where he completed the Server and Cloud Administration learning path. Learn more about MSSA learning paths, curriculum, and role alignment at https://military.microsoft.com/mssa/choose-your-learning-path/.