How to apply
Between the approvals, documentation, and tight timeline, applying to MSSA takes significant planning. We’ve broken the process into major steps so applicants can prepare for success.
Getting started
Once you’ve made the choice to pursue MSSA as your avenue to IT, you’ll need to apply for an upcoming cohort. The application process looks daunting, but it’s worth it. Your journey to a tech career begins here—and our team is behind you every step of the way.
Step 1: Select a program that works for you
Select from three time zones on two continents.
Our intention is to skill US service members stationed overseas in more accommodating time zones while promoting joint services engagement, understanding, and goodwill.
Empowering U.S. service members globally
Expanding the areas we serve welcomes more veteran talent into our hiring pipeline, which includes IT industry roles with Microsoft-US and our 1,000+ corporate partners.
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All three learning paths—SCA, CSO, and CAD—are offered in our live virtual classroom from two U.S. time zones.
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Our newest program offers US and UK-MoD service members and veterans across the European region an opportunity to learn Server and Cloud Administration (SCA) in Central European Time.
Step 2: Choose your learning path
Chart your journey by selecting an MSSA learning path.
Cybersecurity Operations (CSO)
Become a cybersecurity operations professional who can protect and defend both on-premises and cloud infrastructures. Be part of a team to defend IT infrastructures against malicious cyberattacks. Topics include infrastructure and security fundamentals, core cybersecurity, and Microsoft Azure security technologies.
CSO applicants must have 1+ year of experience in cybersecurity—including experience in both networking and server operating systems—as well as a current CompTIA Sec+ certification.
Server and Cloud Administration (SCA)
Become a system administrator who can install, configure, manage, and support IT resources on premises, in the cloud or in a hybrid environment to meet the technology needs of major organizations. Topics include creating Windows Server workloads, implementing networking, virtual machines, authentication and authorization, cloud models, and Azure administration.
Cloud Application Development (CAD)
Become a C# programmer to build local, server based and cloud-stored applications. Concepts include database programming, data integration and manipulation, C# application programming with ASP.NET MVC application development in Azure.
Step 3: Select your program dates
Identify an upcoming cohort
Monitor upcoming program dates for all MSSA offerings. *Dates are subject to change.
Step 4: Kick off your application
Initiate your application during the 2-week application window
Once you’ve decided which cohort is right for you, you’ll need to submit basic information to the application portal during the application window to kick off the admissions process.
Kick off the admissions process during the application window
At this stage, you don’t need documentation in-hand—just your basic information. Once we’ve verified your eligibility, our admissions team will reach out with next steps to submit documentation for materials cutoff.
Step 5: Track your application
MSSA Admission timeline
Step 6: Submit all documents before materials cutoff
Materials cutoff is a hard deadline. Make sure you're ready.
All required documents must be submitted inside the documentation submission window, and no later than the materials cutoff deadline.
When you initiate your application during the application window, you will receive instruction on how to submit required documentation. Submit documentation early! When the first item of documentation is received by our admissions team, you will be assigned an application manager–who can help you navigate the rest of the application process. By materials cutoff—10 weeks before cohort start date—all documents must be submitted in order to be considered for interviews.
Eligibility documentation
Documentation and command approval
Transitioning service members and veterans have different application and documentation requirements, which also vary between service branches. Word to the wise: get an early start and upload each item of documentation as you receive it.
Learn specific documentation requirements for your branch and service status
Active duty? Find the right POC.
Share FAQs for SkillBridge and CSP coordinators when you submit requests for documentation.
Prerequisite learning
Build a technical foundation on LinkedIn Learning
MSSA applicants are expected to obtain a certificate of achievement for the LinkedIn Learning path aligned to the MSSA learning path in their application.
Don’t have one? Don’t worry! You can work on this any time. Just submit documentation prior to Materials Cutoff as part of your complete application.
Step 7: Interview
Next step: interview with our admissions team
All applicants who submitted required documents by materials cutoff and are verified eligible will be interviewed by MSSA’s admissions team.
Tips to keep in mind while applying
Moving documentation through base command and prerequisite learning doesn’t happen overnight! Get organized and start early. It’ll be worth it.
Upload documentation as you get it
As you receive documentation, upload it as you get it, rather than all at once. Application Managers are notified that documents have been submitted and process your application as it’s received. Submitting documentation early allows more opportunity to catch and correct any documentation errors that could impact your eligibility.
Keep track of command approval
It can be extremely disappointing to make it through MSSA’s application process, only to be stalled by lacking a single document. Be sure to track your command approval documentation through each checkoff point within your base so that you are empowered to submit the required documentation by Materials Cutoff.
Be prepared for Materials Cutoff
The Materials Cutoff deadline is a hard deadline 10 weeks before cohort start. ALL required documentation (may include Command Approval, DD-214, prerequisite learning, and other requested information) must be received before the Materials Cutoff deadline for the application to progress.
We strongly encourage applicants to upload documentation as they have it available, not to wait to upload everything at once. Documentation received too close to Materials Cutoff may not have enough time for processing, especially if further applicant action is required.
[Un]official eligibility checklist
We’re invested in the success of each of our participants. Experience has shown that certain factors make otherwise eligible applicants unlikely to fully benefit from the time investment MSSA participation requires. Review the factors listed here and be sure that MSSA is a good fit for you before investing time preparing for Materials Cutoff.
Admissions decisions
Charting your Path
Admissions decisions are released approximately one month before the cohort start date.
What if I’m not selected?
Qualified, eligible applicants are not extended admissions every cycle we offer. There are a set and limited number of seats in each cohort, which we do intentionally to preserve the student experience and learning outcomes. Because cohort sizes are restricted, admissions are competitive, with many more desirable applicants than we can accommodate each cycle.
We know how disappointing it can be to not receive an offer to a particular cycle. Remember that inexperience is not a factor in admissions decisions, and that a disappointing result in one application window does not indicate that you would not be accepted in another application cycle.
While it is disappointing to not receive an offer of admission in a particular application cycle, know that this is a bump in the road—not the end of the road—on your journey to tech, whether it’s through MSSA, other skilling opportunities through Microsoft, or our extended network of mission partners.
Keep in mind
You are free to apply to another cohort cycle!
Stay tuned to application windows for upcoming cohorts and initiate another application as a transitioning service member or a veteran.
Onward to virtual skilling
There are many low-or-no-cost avenues to technical skilling in Microsoft’s learning ecosystem. A wealth of foundational courses, learning paths, and industry-recognized certifications in IT are at your fingertips, just a few clicks away.
Get to know the MSSA graduate network