Operation Forward

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Free tech career training for veterans

We help veterans build the cybersecurity and technology skills Colorado employers are hiring for, at no cost, so talent, not bank accounts, decides who gets the job.

Our mission

Skills that move people forward

To empower veterans with free, career-focused technology training that matches the skills employers need.

We build a stronger Colorado workforce by providing free certification bootcamps and collaborative projects that solve real community needs, while our veterans build hands-on skills and professional resumes.

Who we serve

Veterans, and only veterans

Every program we run is for people who have served.

The move from military service to a civilian tech career is hard to make alone. We focus all of our time, labs and mentors on making it easier.

Seeking partners

DoD SkillBridge

We are seeking to work with service members in the DoD SkillBridge program, and through the employers that take part in it.

What we provide

A free path from the basics to the job

Bridge courses

Self-paced courses that build the foundation you need before starting a certification bootcamp.

Certification bootcamps

Free courses for industry certifications such as CompTIA, (ISC)², AWS and Azure, taught by working professionals, with exam vouchers at no cost when you complete the coursework.

Project Hub

Teams of veterans build real technical projects for local nonprofits, with mentors, weekly check-ins and experience you can put on a resume.

Hands-on labs

Realistic lab environments where you practice, fail, fix and learn without consequence, the way the job is really done.

Employers

Training for the jobs that exist

We want to work with employers in Colorado Springs and across Colorado to understand which cybersecurity skills the industry needs most.

What we learn from you shapes what we teach, so the skills our veterans bring match the needs of the market.

Hiring for cybersecurity?

Tell us the roles you struggle to fill and the skills they need. We'll share how our training lines up.

Talk to us about hiring

Our goals

What we want to accomplish

  • No cost barrier. Tuition, workspace and labs free for every veteran.
  • Skills the market needs. Training shaped by what Colorado employers tell us they are hiring for, especially in cybersecurity.
  • Confidence, not just theory. Graduates who have done the work in realistic environments, not only read about it.
  • Credentials and experience. Recognized certifications and verifiable project work that employers value.
  • Help for local nonprofits. Real technical projects delivered to organizations in our community.
  • A stronger Colorado. Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region as a hub of veteran tech talent and community-driven innovation.

Contact us

Talk to us

Questions, ideas, or want to help? Email us at contact@operationforward.org.