ABOUT CODE PLATOON
Code Platoon is a 501(c)3 non-profit that helps veterans and military spouses transition into the civilian workforce by providing technical training and career placement. For 14 weeks the students are immersed in learning the full Ruby on Rails stack, including Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. No previous programming skills are required. After completing the program the veteran or military spouse will be hireable as a junior full-stack web developer and eligible for an internship.
THE PROBLEM
The unemployment rate for young post-911 veterans was 50% higher than the national average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Job-seeking military veterans faced many challenges translating their demonstrated dedication, teamwork and problem-solving into civilian work experience. In a growing field which actively sought these attributes, veterans were chronically underemployed.
Attending four-year college after completing their service was just not practical for most veterans for family, financial and social reasons. Even then, their education would be rooted in more theory than real-word skills. Short-term immersive education programs called developer bootcamps had become talent pools, but none specifically addressed the challenges and considerations of the veteran community.
OUR SOLUTION
Immersive coding boot camps give students opportunity to learn by doing in a collaborative environment. Many hours are spent coding, applying the principles taught in the lectures. Working together on teams to solve complex code challenges simulates the real-world work experience. Jobs are available — some coding boot camps have demonstrated placement rates comparable to top four-year colleges.
Code Platoon was created to connect members of the veteran community with job opportunities using a similar model, while facilitating the transition into civilian life. Code Platoon teaches veterans and military spouses marketable skills that leverage core competencies, transforming them into software developers through an immersive, hands-on, educational process and paid internship program.
HOW WE DO IT
As a 501(c)3 non-profit, Code Platoon helps veterans and military spouses find meaningful and fulfilling work. In order to achieve our mission, we seek to:
Lower barriers to entry: Traditional boot camps cost $10,000 or more. Code Platoon’s sponsors and corporate partners help to make this an affordable option for veterans and military spouses through scholarships and funding.
Challenge Assumptions: A veteran or military spouse has what it takes to become a developer, even if they don’t identify as a techie. We encourage all veterans and military spouses to apply. It doesn’t require a math background or a four-year degree.
Raise Awareness: The veteran community brings a lot of value to the workplace, as well as many benefits to the employer. We help spread the word by partnering with companies that have veteran hiring programs.
Code Platoon is a U.S. tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 47-2499578). Code Platoon has an articulation agreement with National American University, whereby students who successfully complete an approved Code Platoon training program will be eligible to receive credit at National American University. Code Platoon is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (1 N. Old State Capital Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701, www.ibhe.org). Code Platoon is a member of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (www.cirr.org) and is a platinum-level participant with Guidestar (www.guidestar.org).
