From Student to Program Director: Francisco Avila’s Full Circle Journey at Code Platoon
A transition with purpose
Before tech, Francisco Avila served eight years in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Mortarman and Infantry Combat Instructor. By the time he left the military, he had trained hundreds of Marines and was deeply established in his profession. Leaving that behind was not easy.
His experience with technology was limited. “The most interactions I had with machines prior to Code Platoon were Google Drive and Microsoft Office,” Francisco says. “I never really saw myself as a Software Engineer.”
What he did know was that he wanted a different kind of future. Leaving the military meant starting over in a completely new field, but he was willing to put in the work to make that transition happen.
“I decided to build myself again from the ground up,” he says. “I told myself if I was able to do everything I had done up to that point in my life, how hard could it be to learn a new skill and become a software engineer? Turns out it was difficult, but with the help of the TAs and the resources at Code Platoon, I knew I would be able to achieve my goal.”
That mindset became the turning point. Now he just needed to find the right fit.
Why Code Platoon
Francisco chose Code Platoon for two main reasons.
First, word of mouth. He knew two Marines who had attended Code Platoon before him, and both successfully transitioned into tech careers within months of leaving the military. Seeing that path made the possibility feel real.
Second, timing and opportunity. Through DoD SkillBridge and scholarship support, Francisco attended Code Platoon during the final three months of his military service. The schedule aligned closely with his EAS date, allowing him to begin building new technical skills while still on active duty.
The program offered the structure and flexibility he needed as he prepared to transition out of the Marine Corps.
Developing the software engineering mindset
During the Fullstack Engineering Immersive Romeo Platoon, Francisco learned Python, JavaScript, Django, databases, and Agile workflows. But the biggest shift was internal.
In the Marine Corps, he had been experienced and confident. At Code Platoon, he had to start over.
“I needed to accept that I was essentially starting from scratch all over again and come in with an ‘I know nothing, but I will use all the resources available to figure it out’ mindset.”
That humility created growth.
When asked which military skills translate to software engineering, Francisco points to the fundamentals of problem-solving.
“Much of the work feels familiar. Breaking large problems into smaller ones. Working with limited resources. Staying focused on moving the task forward instead of getting stuck. The same way I wrote curriculum for Infantry tactics is the same way I write curriculum for how to create React components. My tools have changed. Instead of my uniform and kit, I have VSCode, documentation, and machines. But the process is the same.”
After graduating, he returned to Code Platoon as a teaching assistant for Sierra Platoon, helping students navigate the same challenges he had just overcome. Soon after that, he became a full-time instructor at Code Platoon and later the Lead Instructor for the Immersive Program, and in February, he became the Program Director.
Leading the next generation of engineers
Today, as Program Director, Francisco ensures Code Platoon’s curriculum evolves with the industry.
“In-demand skills for software engineers have changed drastically since I was a student,” he says. “Calling yourself a fullstack engineer no longer just means building a front end, back end, and database.”
Working closely with Career Services and gathering feedback from employers, he has led major updates to the curriculum, including:
- Cloud infrastructure training with AWS
- CI/CD pipelines integrated into fullstack workflows
- Stronger front end and back end refinements aligned with industry standards
He is also leading improvements, including Code Platoon Prep 2.0, strengthening foundational JavaScript and Python skills, expanding DevOps practices within the curriculum, improving the Application Hub, and formalizing instructor onboarding and quality assurance.
“The best part about this job is that you will never know enough. Everything changes. The job continues to stay challenging.”
Francisco’s story—from Marine, to Immersive student in Romeo Platoon, to teaching assistant, to Program Director—reflects what Code Platoon is all about.
This is more than a coding bootcamp. It is a pathway for Veterans and military families to build meaningful careers in software engineering, guided by leadership that understands exactly what that transition requires.
Francisco’s story is a full-circle journey, and it is still evolving.
