Active duty military trying to get a CDL, advice?

Assuming you currently hold the Military equiv of a CDL almost all states participate in the Troops to Trucks program which allows you to convert your passenger license to a CDL with no road test. You DO still have to pass all the knowledge tests. If you don't have a Military CDL equiv than you start like scratch like everybody else. Only thing that worries me is you say "some" experieince, and drive a stick, stick means 10,13 or 18sp transmissions right? If not you need to go to school and start from scratch. GI bill will pay for an accredited school.

Good Luck

Unfortunately, your phrasing leaves some doubt with me as far as your already learned abilities. You say driven large vehicles, but everything I've seen used in any military units in the last couple of decades have been automatics. That will help in learning to back properly if you had to back large trailers, although clutch engagement can make a simple backing job a real chore in a heavy truck.

You also say some stick time, but a car is NOT the same as a truck stick shift. One of the requirements in an 18 wheeler is double clutching, which is NOT needed in a car, or with an automatic transmission. The only place it is used is in heavy truck transmissions. The military hasn't used them since the days of the manual transmission "Deuce and a Half" and 10 ton tractors with their 5 speed Eatons and Spicers.

As far as schools, 1st place I'd check would be the base education office to see what they know. If they can't help, then check your local area and talk to the truck school recruiters. They could tell you what, when and how much. If you were out west, the only 3 schools I know that still have Federal Accreditation are the AIT group with campuses in Tucson, Las Vegas and headquartered in Phoenix. Avoid the CDL mills that promise your license in "3-4 weeks" They are rip offs that will teach you enough to pass the test, (barely) but not teach you what you need to know to survive in the trucking industry. They will also cost almost as much as a real school, which will have you in classroom for from 8-10 weeks (half days in most), before 8-10 weeks in the trucks. Most also have weekend classes that are longer calander wise as they give the same number of hours, but 2 full days a week instead of 5 half days.

The industry is NOT simply a job where you drive from point A to point B. There is much more involved and those who don't understand that never make decent money and are constantly taken advantage of by large companies.

I don't know of ANY military program that is going to pay for you to get a State issued Commercial Driver's License. PLUS, give you the month or six weeks off duty to attend classes and take the training you're going to need before you can pass the practical exams to get the license.

If you wait until AFTER you leave active duty, you MIGHT be able to get some financial assistance from your GI Bill benefits.

If your MOS is driving a truck many states will count it toward a CDL no test even. Ask local truck driving schools near your base. If there is a way to get money they would know.

I live in a free state. No classes required. You just have to pass a written and driving test, total cost less than $100.