Code Platoon Programs Approved as Certification Prep Courses

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Students Attending Remotely Can Use GI Bill® for Program Costs.

Chicago, IL – Veterans and military family members ready to transition into tech careers now have more options. Code Platoon’s programs have been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as Licensing and Certification Preparation Courses, allowing students to use their GI Bill® benefits for reimbursement of program costs.

This approval will benefit students attending Code Platoon remotely, as it makes the GI Bill an option for the first time.

A significant portion of Code Platoon students attend remotely due to the demands of military service, including deployments and relocations. The ability to learn remotely provides essential flexibility for military families, balancing work, school, and family responsibilities.

“For military families, flexibility is often the difference between starting a new career or putting it on hold,” said Rod Levy, Executive Director of Code Platoon. “This approval gives Veterans (and military spouses and military children who have access to GI Bill benefits) access to training for some of the most in-demand tech roles, including software developer, system architect, and cloud engineer, no matter where life takes them.”

Under the Certification Preparation Course designation, the VA will reimburse tuition for preparatory courses as long as the student has remaining entitlement. Students must request reimbursement from the VA.

Edward Donovan, Board President of Code Platoon, added: “Our programs are designed to create pathways into tech careers for Veterans and military family members whether they’re learning to code for the first time or looking to upskill in areas like data analytics or system engineering. The VA approval of our programs as Certification Prep courses helps us extend this opportunity to even more of the military community.”

Code Platoon’s in-person training programs at their Chicago classroom were already eligible for GI Bill® benefits.


Why Code Platoon Stands Out

Code Platoon is a nonprofit coding bootcamp for beginners, offering hands-on training in web development, DevOps, and cloud engineering. With flexible options—including full-time, part-time, in-person, and online bootcamps—the program meets students where they are. Graduates leave with a strong foundation in coding, prepared for roles as full-stack developers, cybersecurity analysts, and more.

Code Platoon also stands out for its career-focused support, including partnerships with leading employers to help students transition into meaningful tech careers.

For more information on using your GI Bill for Code Platoon’s remote programs, visit www.codeplatoon.org.

Contact Information:

Jim Hennessey
(312) 767-7673
jim@codeplatoon.org.
codeplatoon.org

Code Platoon Graduate Outcomes 2024

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Code Platoon is committed to supporting Veterans, Servicemembers, and military families as they transition into tech careers. Over the past year, we’ve seen a slight dip in our six-month and one-year employment rates. Still, our graduates continue to leverage their skills and resilience to secure software engineering roles with a median starting salary of $80,000.

Our graduates’ continued success speaks volumes about the strength of our approach.  Our flexible learning options and dedicated support have helped Veterans and their families transition smoothly into new careers.

“Code Platoon continues to be the go-to path for Veterans and military spouses to break into tech,” Rod Levy, Executive Director of Code Platoon, says. “We’re always evolving our curriculum and career services to keep pace with the ever-changing tech landscape, ensuring our graduates are ready to hit the ground running.”

Code Platoon Graduate Outcomes 2024

  • In 2024, 61% of Code Platoon graduates secured jobs in tech within six months of completing the program, with a median starting salary of $80,000. 
  • One year after graduation, that placement rate increases to 72%
  • The median salary jumps to $102,000 after two years in the industry. 
  • Code Platoon continues to be recognized as a top coding bootcamp by Course Report and SwitchUp. This year, we also earned new designations as the #1 Best Coding Bootcamp of 2024 by College Consensus and a Military Friendly School by VIQTORY.

In-Demand Skills Employers Seek

Code Platoon graduates excel in tech because they master the skills employers demand. Our Full-Stack Software Engineering curriculum covers essential programming languages like Python and JavaScript, along with popular tools such as Docker, React, and PostgreSQL. This year, we added artificial intelligence training to our core curriculum, equipping students with one of the hottest skills in software engineering today. Our specialized DevOps and Cloud Engineering training also dives into continuous integration, configuration management, and automation—ensuring graduates can make an immediate impact in their new roles.

“In my seven years of tech experience, practical knowledge is the biggest asset. Nobody I’ve worked with has treated me differently because I don’t have a degree.” James, an Army National Guard Veteran and Technical Team Lead at Procore Technologies says.

Navigating the Job Market with Confidence

While the tech industry has seen shifts and challenges, Code Platoon graduates continue to stand out because of their unique combination of in-demand technical skills and lived experience from their military backgrounds, including discipline, leadership, and problem-solving. This combination continues to make them highly sought after by our corporate and hiring partners, including Caesars Digital, Travelers Insurance, and Cecilian Partners.

As the tech landscape evolves, our comprehensive Career Services help graduates take on the job search with a clear strategy and well-prepared materials. Our dedicated Career Services team provides personalized support, including 1-on-1 mentorship, resume workshops, LinkedIn optimization, and mock interviews, preparing our graduates to present their military-to-tech transition stories to future employers.

“Code Platoon prepared me for the job market better than a degree,” Megan, a Navy Veteran and Software Engineer at DRW, says. “The program gave me a good sense of communication skills and how to explain my work experience.” 

Companies that Hire Code Platoon Grads

Is a Career in Tech Right for You? A Guide for Veterans and Military Families

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If you’re a Veteran, Servicemember, or military spouse wondering whether a technology career might be a good fit, you’re not alone. Technology roles offer rewarding opportunities with significant job growth, financial stability, and a chance to leverage the skills you’ve honed during your military background. Let’s explore why a tech career may be your ideal path, where to find the best jobs in tech, and how to prepare for a tech career.

Why Consider a Technology Career

High Demand and Growth

The U.S. tech industry is rapidly expanding, making it a prime time to enter the field. With roles ranging from software engineering to cloud computing, technology careers are in high demand across various sectors, offering long-term career growth and stability.

Strong Salary Prospects

One of the key advantages of a technology career is the earning potential. The median annual wage for computer and IT jobs in the United States is significantly higher than the national median wage for all occupations. If financial security is your priority, a tech role offers a path to a stable and lucrative career. 

Veteran-Friendly Industry

Many tech companies recognize the unique skills that come from military service and actively seek to hire Veterans and military spouses. This makes technology careers particularly welcoming to those with military experience, where adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving are already second nature.

Where to Find the Best Jobs in Technology

You might be surprised to learn that jobs in technology are open to more than just the tech industry. Many sectors are experiencing a growing demand for tech professionals:

  • Banking and Finance: With the rise of mobile banking, fintech, and cybersecurity, this sector has a high demand for software engineers.
  • Healthcare: The shift to electronic health records and the rise of telemedicine have made healthcare a major player in the tech job market.
  • Retail and E-Commerce: The online shopping boom has increased the need for sophisticated logistics software, driving demand for tech talent in this sector.
  • Government and Public Sector: With ongoing digital transformation initiatives and the growing focus on cybersecurity, government agencies are increasingly seeking tech professionals.
  • Manufacturing and Industrial: As automation becomes more prevalent, tech employees are essential in manufacturing and industry.

Top Technology Roles for Veterans and Spouses

Veterans and military spouses often bring transferable skills that make stepping into entry-level tech roles easier. Here are a few of the best jobs in tech for those with a military background:

  • Full-Stack Developer: These professionals work on both the front-end and back-end of applications, adapting to various challenges like a multi-functional unit in the military.
  • DevOps Engineer: DevOps Engineers—akin to logistics officers—bridge the gap between software development and IT teams, ensuring smooth operations.
  • Cloud Engineer: Cloud Engineers manage complex cloud systems, drawing on problem-solving and strategic planning skills honed in the military.
  • Junior Software Engineer: Junior developers—the newest recruits—start with foundational skills and progress to more complex coding challenges with guidance from senior developers.
  • Project Manager: Project Managers oversee software products or other technical projects, keeping their teams on track and within budget. Their role requires strategic planning, communication, and leadership skills—making it a great fit for Veterans accustomed to managing complex missions.
  • Data Analyst: Data Analysts gather, interpret, and report on data to help organizations make informed decisions by leveraging their problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
  • Software Architect: Software Architects excel in systems thinking and long-term planning. They design the overarching structure of software applications and ensure each part aligns with the intended goals.
  • Video Game Designer: For those with a creative and technical bent, Video Game Designers combine storytelling with tech skills to create interactive gaming experiences.

How to Prepare for a Tech Career

If you’re ready to start a career in technology, coding bootcamps offer accessible access to quality technical training. Bootcamps provide hands-on training in high-demand areas like software development and DevOps, making them practical and affordable alternatives to pursuing a college degree.

Is Technology the Right Path for You?

Every journey into tech is unique, but for many Veterans and military spouses, the industry has proven to be both rewarding and impactful. As you weigh your career options, consider the ways your skills and experience might fit into this high-demand field. Whether it’s through exploring free online courses, connecting with tech mentors, or attending information sessions for technical programs, small steps can help you gauge whether tech is the right choice for you. 

With the right training and support, a career in technology could be the next step that aligns with your military experience and future ambitions.

Kayla Elkin is the Marketing Content Specialist at Code Platoon. In this role, she uses her marketing, writing, and editing skills developed from previous higher education and educational technology positions. Kayla has degrees in English and Sociology from Clemson University and completed the Study in India Program (SIP) at the University of Hyderabad. Outside work, she enjoys playing video games and Dungeons & Dragons with her friends.

A word from our Partner of the Year, Travelers

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Innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, attention to detail, resiliency and determination – those are just a few of the attributes we look for in prospective employees. And we have found the military community to be an exceptional talent pool to tap for those skill sets. 

But being a military-friendly employer goes beyond seeking out talent. We understand how important it is to create a supportive environment and enable the success of our employees, which is why we maintain a robust suite of initiatives centered on helping military spouses and those with a military background. This includes programs like our military and veterans employee resource group that has more than 3,300 members, our comprehensive benefits for those deployed on active duty and our partnerships with organizations, like Code Platoon, that are helping veterans transition into civilian careers.

When it comes to our work with Code Platoon, we’ve been piloting a placement initiative that’s proven to be quite successful. Over the past year, we’ve hired a number of Code Platoon graduates into our Engineering Development Program, a one-year talent pipeline program that serves as the foundation for our Technology workforce. It contains four designated engineering tracks (software, cyber, data and infrastructure/cloud) designed to grow and develop technical capabilities. The program’s thorough and structured training approach features a combination of hands-on opportunities, immersive learning accelerators, and a mentoring component, providing a smooth transition into a corporate environment and a career in engineering. 

Our Code Platoon graduates have been an excellent addition to the team here – they take initiative, embrace change, actively listen and support diverse points of view and, importantly, they celebrate each other’s success.

Foxtrot Evening & Weekend Platoon Final Projects

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At Code Platoon, the culmination of our Full-Stack Software Engineering: Evening & Weekend program is nothing short of spectacular. Our Veteran and military spouse graduates spend 28 rigorous weeks mastering coding, and their final projects are a testament to their hard work, creativity, technical skills, and real-world problem-solving developed during coding bootcamp. We are thrilled to highlight the projects our graduates programmed and deployed during their three-week final project sprint. Let’s dive into their full-stack creations.

Reputable Restrooms: Find and Review Public Restrooms

Reputable Restrooms is an application designed to help users find the cleanest, closest, and best-reviewed restrooms based on their location. Users can view restroom location pins, read and submit reviews, and see average ratings all laid out on a clean map UI built with Google Maps API.

Although the team was more versed in JavaScript from the Evening & Weekend program, they elected to challenge themselves by using TypeScript on the front end of their final project: “We decided to use TypeScript because it’s versatile and gave Reputable Restrooms a modern touch. After we put things together, we were able to use HTML and CSS for the page’s styling easily. In the long run, I think it saved us a lot of time,” Charles, a Navy Reservist and member of the Reputable Restrooms team, says. 

The project also leveraged React and Bootstrap on the front end, and Python and Django on the back end. The development team comprised two Army Veterans and a Marine Corps Veteran alongside Charles.

Trek Tracker: A Guide to National Parks

Trek Tracker is the next project in the showcase. It was developed by two Army Veterans, an Air Force Veteran, a Marine Corps Veteran, and a military spouse.

“Our motivation for this project was to promote discovery of national parks, educate people, and create lasting memories for friends and family,” Raymond, a Marine Corps Veteran, says. “In the future, we want to implement a way for Trek Tracker users to plan and share trips with family and friends in the application.”

Trek Tracker provides information for visiting national parks in the United States, including available activities and customized weather and news alerts for each location. Users can log their past visits, plan future trips, and even keep a diary of their experiences. Trek Tracker uses the National Parks Service API, the National Weather Service API, and the graduates’ in-house API to create and save park reviews to their PostGreSQL database.

Evently: Event and Guest Management App

The final project demonstrated during the Foxtrot Evening & Weekend Platoon graduation is Evently. Evently simplifies event planning and guest management while sending automatic email notifications via Django’s STMP capabilities. The app also features an event calendar and event windows with details, guest lists, and location maps, enhancing the overall user experience.

Dylan, an Army Veteran, reflects on his learning experience while creating Evently: “When developing our front end with React Material UI, we found that it was easy to box ourselves in, especially when working with its reusable components. If we were starting from scratch again, we should’ve considered scalability earlier.”

“I don’t know if we would have finished had we not deployed early and often. Learning how to set up and configure Terraform was my biggest challenge, but it made it much easier to test,” Matt, an Army Veteran, said.

The rest of the Evently team comprised of an Army Reservist and a Navy Reservist.

Celebrating Success and Looking Forward

Our graduates’ dedication to learning and ingenuity are truly inspiring. As they enter the tech industry, we’re confident they will continue to code and contribute to the future of the tech industry. Congratulations to our Foxtrot Evening & Weekend Platoon graduates on their significant accomplishments!

Celebrate Code Platoon 2024: Empowering Futures and Expanding Horizons

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On a warm September evening in Chicago, the River Room came alive with the sounds of celebration as we gathered for Celebrate Code Platoon 2024—a night as inspirational as it was impactful. With delicious food and drinks in hand, partners, alumni, and Code Platoon community members came together to support our mission of transforming the lives of Veterans and military families through the power of tech careers.

A Night of Milestones and Exciting Announcements

Thanks to the generosity of our attendees and corporate sponsors, we raised an incredible $105,496—funds that will empower Veterans, Servicemembers, and their families with generous scholarships as they prepare to launch their tech careers.

But the night wasn’t just about raising funds—it was about recognizing the strength of our community and the exciting road ahead. Code Platoon’s Executive Director, Rodrigo Levy, took the stage to share incredible milestones over the past year and announce an exciting expansion of Code Platoon’s mission: Code Platoon will now accept adult children of Veterans and Servicemembers into all of our programs! This bold expansion is a testament to our commitment to reducing underemployment and creating tech career opportunities for military members and their families.

Honoring Our Community

During Celebrate, we were proud to recognize Travelers as our 2024 Partner of the Year. Travelers has provided unwavering support of our mission through financial contributions and placing our graduates in software development positions within the company. 

“We have a longstanding commitment to supporting the military community, and it is an absolute honor to be recognized by Code Platoon for our efforts,” Jim McMahon, Director of Talent Acquisition at Travelers, said.

We also honored Greg Tutunjian our Volunteer of the Year for his invaluable contributions to the Code Platoon community—hosting free Agile workshops for our students and alumni over the last six years.

Ending the evening on an inspiring note, our alumni took center stage to share their military-to-tech journeys and how Code Platoon’s programs and community propelled their software engineering careers. 

Roque speaking at Celebrate Code Platoon 2024“I come from a background in liberal arts and business, so I wouldn’t be where I am today without the strong technical foundation I built at Code Platoon… Code Platoon has grown so much since I first enrolled, and I’m proud to be an alumnus of this incredible program,” Roque Mesa, Army Veteran and Backend Software Engineer at JPMorgan Chase, said.

Tressa speaking at Celebrate Code Platoon 2024“Code Platoon gave me the opportunity to support my family in more ways than I imagined… I can be present for my children while still providing for my family. This would have never been possible without the foundation that Code Platoon provided me,” Tressa Sharma, Army Veteran and Software Engineer at Bodhi, shared.

Support Our Mission

Tressa and Roque’s stories of resilience and success were a powerful reminder of why Code Platoon exists: to equip Veterans and military families with the tools they need to thrive in the tech industry. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community as we continue our mission.

If you couldn’t join Celebrate Code Platoon 2024 in person, don’t worry—there’s still time to make a lasting impact! Your tax-deductible donation will directly support Veterans and military families as they transform their careers and lives with our technical training programs.

Thank you for celebrating with us! 

Thida Sam is Code Platoon’s Director of Development. With a background in public service and the nonprofit sector, Thida is passionate about building impactful partnerships and driving sustainable social impact. A University of Michigan graduate, Thida lives in Boston with her children and spouse.

 

Code Platoon Expands Mission to Serve Adult Children of Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers

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Chicago, IL – Code Platoon, a leading nonprofit Coding Bootcamp for Veterans and military spouses, is proud to announce the expansion of its mission to include adult children of Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers. Starting today, adult children of Veterans and Servicemembers can apply to join one of Code Platoon’s training programs.

“Our mission has always been about creating opportunities for the military community to start successful tech careers,” said Rod Levy, Founder and Executive Director, Code Platoon. “By opening our training to the adult children of Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers, we’re building on that mission, ensuring more of the military community can benefit from our program and become tomorrow’s tech leaders..”

Since 2016, Code Platoon has empowered more than 650 Veterans and military spouses to become professional software engineers. In 2023, we served almost 200 military coding students in our programs. An impressive 70% of these graduates landed tech jobs within six months, with a median starting salary of $85,000.

Who Can Apply:
Adult children of Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers who possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent can now apply to Code Platoon’s programs. They will have access to job-ready training at little to no cost through the organization’s scholarship programs or by leveraging their parent’s VA education benefits where available.

In 2023, Code Platoon awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships, ensuring that financial burdens were minimized and that most students paid nothing at all.

What’s Available:
Applications are now open for Code Platoon’s upcoming Full-stack Software Engineering and DevOps and Cloud Engineering programs. Applicants can choose from remote or in-person classes and participate full-time or in the Evening & Weekend programs to fit their schedule. 

“Expanding our reach to include adult children of Veterans and Active-Duty Servicemembers is a significant step in fulfilling our mission,” said Edward Donovan, President of the Board of Directors, Code Platoon. “We recognize that the military community possesses unique skills and qualities that make them well-suited for successful tech careers. We’re thrilled to support this broader group as they transform into Tomorrow’s Tech Leaders.

Why Code Platoon?
Code Platoon is consistently recognized as one of the top coding bootcamps in the U.S. by Course Report and SwitchUp. College Consensus ranked Code Platoon as the #1 Best Coding Bootcamp in 2024.

Code Platoon has been named a Military Friendly School by VIQTORY for our commitment to creating opportunities for the military community in their transition to civilian careers and education.

For more information on Code Platoon’s programs and how to apply, visit Code Platoon’s website.

About Code Platoon
Code Platoon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that transforms Veterans, active duty Servicemembers, and military spouses into professional software engineers through an immersive, hands-on educational process and paid apprenticeship program. We recognize the unique and diversified skill sets and experience Veterans bring to the tech industry and provide the hard and soft skills for these individuals to transition to careers in tech. 

Contact Information:

Jim Hennessey
(312) 767-7673
jim@codeplatoon.org.
codeplatoon.org

From Bootcamp to Boardroom: How Veterans Are Fast-Tracking Their Tech Careers

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Veterans often face career uncertainty, questioning their ability to transition from military to civilian roles. Concerns like “What if I can’t find a job?” or “Can I learn something new?” loom large.

Code Platoon alumni Michael Orland and Megan Genualdi faced these same concerns before they both became software engineers at DRW after graduating from coding bootcamp.

Michael, an Army Reserve Combat Medic, later earned a nursing license. He graduated from Code Platoon in May 2021 and started at DRW with a six-month apprenticeship. This then turned into a full-time position. Michael now contributes to a project revamping all the networking data and how the networking team consumes that data.

“Since starting, I’ve deployed or created nearly eight applications, either solo or with a small team,” he shares.

Megan, a Navy Electronics Technician for six years, completed Code Platoon in May 2022 through the DoD SkillBridge program. She joined DRW as a software engineering apprentice, quickly contributing to key projects. 

“I continue to work on a project from my internship, which is a testament to my passion for it,” says Megan. “We call it traffic control, an app that tracks the status of shipments. I still enjoy it because it’s a lot of fun to design and make all the different elements work together.” 

DRW, a Chicago-based international trading firm, is one of Code Platoon’s longest-standing corporate partners. Their innovative approach to trading centers around technology, modeling, and quantitative analysis. Code Platoon works with employers like DRW to secure graduates with tech jobs within six months of completing the program.

“My manager consistently makes space for Code Platoon graduates,” says Michael. “Our team has welcomed several, including Megan. We have nineteen people total from Code Platoon. It says a lot that they are working alongside graduates from Stanford, Yale, and other top universities.”

“The Code Platoon graduates who start here tend to be a bit bolder and more mature, with more lived experience from the military or as a spouse compared to the new CS graduates. From managing my team, I would say Code Platoon’s bootcamp graduates are just as prepared to jump in as our other apprentices who complete internal training for nine months.”

The shift from military service to software engineering was initially challenging for both Megan and Michael, but Code Platoon equipped them well for their new tech careers.

“Code Platoon directly prepared me, from prototyping to full-stack development—exactly what I do now,” says Michael.

Starting with no coding knowledge, Michael found the bootcamp’s learning curve invaluable. Once he started working in software, he was very comfortable being thrown into situations where he had to figure out how to build new things.

“I felt imposter syndrome at Code Platoon, but my job was actually easy to pick up afterwards. Bootcamp was very similar to what I would be doing at DRW,” says Megan. “Code Platoon also gave me a good sense of communication skills and how to explain what I am doing to non-tech people, which is an essential part of my job when I converse with stakeholders.” 

Both Megan and Michael continue to advance rapidly in their careers. Michael was accepted into a Master’s program in Quantitative Management: Business Analytics. At DRW, he is currently a mid-level engineer who builds applications from the ground up. 

“I’ve started leading projects over the last year and a half, so I get to be in charge of all 360 degrees of the development process. Stakeholders ask me to build something, then we put together a plan, present it to them, and then it evolves as we develop it,” says Michael. 

Megan is earning a computer science degree and has started to lead development projects as well.

“I’m happy I did the bootcamp before getting my degree,” she says. “I feel like Code Platoon better prepared me for the job market than a degree. I’m learning a lot in the CS classes too, but I’m reading and hearing lectures about concepts instead of doing them.”

Both Michael and Megan started exactly where a lot of Veterans are right now: just coming out of the military, feeling overwhelmed, and maybe not knowing what direction to go in. Code Platoon underscores a crucial message for Veterans and military spouses: It’s never too late to pivot, and nothing is impossible.

As Michael says, ‘It blows my mind that just four months of coding bootcamp led to a career like this.”

Agile Expertise Meets Volunteer Dedication: Greg Tutunjian

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Code Platoon is committed to more than just teaching technical skills; it fosters a supportive community that empowers students, alums, and staff for long-term success. Among the key contributors is Greg Tutunjian, an Agile performance coach and long-time volunteer adjunct instructor at Code Platoon.

For six years, Greg has volunteered at Code Platoon, hosting Agile workshops that help Veteran and military spouse graduates earn Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) certifications. 

Greg spent 19 years as a software developer before transitioning into an Agile performance coach. As he began managing tech teams, Greg discovered a passion for training and enhancing the effectiveness of software engineering teams in meeting deliverables and improving communication.

“I found the human side of computing more challenging and rewarding than merely writing code and solving technical problems,” says Greg. “After my team hired Scrum originators Ken and Jeff, I saw for myself that understanding how to break down a project and finish it is incredibly empowering for professionals in the software field.” 

Greg leveraged that experience to coach and train others in what would eventually become known as Agile. Agile methodology focuses on breaking projects into manageable phases and maximizing team productivity by empowering members rather than relying on top-down management.

“For decades, engineering teams have faced challenges in delivering projects on schedule and within budget. As certifications like Agile have shown, a team can have strong software engineers, but their efficiency takes a massive hit if they don’t have good communication, management, and collaboration skills,” says Greg. “I began teaching Agile workshops to drive change in the industry and, admittedly, to cultivate more efficient tech teams I’d enjoy working with. Perhaps selfishly, I wanted to work with better, more efficient tech teams. I wanted to set an improved standard for workflow in the software engineering space.”

“I began volunteering at organizations like Code Platoon to test a theory: Veterans and active duty Servicemembers possess innate skills from their military experience that make them ideal candidates for software development.”

“I believe that’s proven to be the case when I volunteered with Code Platoon. Code Platoon alumni have proven to be more prolific and innovative than many entry-level engineers I’ve encountered.”

“Beyond my workshops, Code Platoon’s team projects serve as excellent incubators for effective software engineering practices. I regularly attend their graduations, and I’m continually impressed by the decision-making and teamwork displayed during their final project presentations. It’s already baked into their military background.” 

Greg finds two aspects of these workshops particularly rewarding.

“First, it’s the feedback I get at the end of day two. I get notes on LinkedIn from former participants who tell me how the workshops paid off for them. That has been so rewarding,” Greg said. “Second, while I’m teaching, everyone pays attention, whether they’re in person or remote, every time I do this for Code Platoon. This level of engagement is rare in the commercial world.” 

The software engineering industry has evolved significantly since Greg first entered the field. Today, software engineers are expected to develop specialized skills, whereas, in the past, a broader skill set was more valued.  

With his experience in mind, Greg suggests some advice for people in the software engineering industry:

“I advise both new and experienced developers to focus on honing their people skills. In tech teams, communication and accountability are often assumed, but it’s crucial to refine these soft skills alongside your technical abilities.”

The Heart of Code Platoon: How Teaching Assistants Empower Veteran Coders

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Code Platoon Teaching Assistants (TAs) do more than instruct; they mentor and guide Veteran and military spouse students, ensuring they receive personalized attention to excel in their coding bootcamp. TAs include early-career tech professionals, Veterans seeking to give back, current college students, and alumni, all of whom bring valuable expertise and support to facilitate a smooth tech transition for our graduates.

“Second only to the students, the TAs are the heart of Code Platoon,” says Adam Cahan, Program Manager at Code Platoon. “It’s a pleasure for us—the instructors, students, and other TAs—to work together in support of our mission.”

The TA role at Code Platoon is mutually beneficial, offering both assistants and students valuable opportunities for growth. In addition to helping the students with their code, the TAs get to develop vital professional skills for their future tech careers.

I’ve personally learned a lot coding-wise, but also in terms of leadership and communication skills,” says Rachel Snyder, Code Platoon TA and Computer Science student at Tufts University. “I now feel more than ready for my college CS classes in the fall.”

“Having completed Code Platoon’s Immersive program, I was familiar with the curriculum. However, my TA experience further refined my technical troubleshooting skills, deepened my problem-solving abilities, and sharpened my ability to ask the right questions to understand the code better,” says Tristan Zimmerman, a Marine Corps Veteran, Code Platoon alum, and former TA. “These skills have been essential now that I’m working as a software engineering apprentice at Cecilian Partners.” 

In Code Platoon’s flagship program, Full-stack Software Engineering, TAs lead teams of 5-8 students through a three-month coding journey, fostering the collaborative learning environment central to Code Platoon’s mission. This hands-on leadership is vital to fostering the unique, team-first learning environment that defines Code Platoon’s mission.

“My favorite part of being a TA is watching students progress and encouraging them along their journey. Seeing their growth from the first week to completing group projects is incredibly fulfilling,” says Rachel.

“When I TAed, I enjoyed being assigned my team of students to mentor,” says Tristan. “Over the weeks, I came to understand their skill levels in depth and build strong connections with them. It was an amazing experience that strengthened the cohort as a whole.”

“I love working with our TAs,” says Adam. “They are consistently a bright, motivated, energetic, and thoughtful group. It’s exciting to see them get into the cadence of the program and develop the sense of ownership and passion they have for our students every cohort.”

The influence of TAs extends throughout the Code Platoon community. By guiding students, supporting instructors, and continuously learning, TAs play a crucial role in our mission. They ensure each cohort graduates not only with technical skills but with a strong support network to carry into their future tech careers.