On February 1, 2016, we launched Alpha Platoon—our very first cohort. Just a few students, no full-time staff, and one mission: to give Veterans and military spouses a clear, meaningful path into tech. Ten years later, that mission hasn’t changed—but the world around us certainly has.
Back then, we couldn’t predict just how quickly the tech industry would evolve. AI wasn’t on every headline, and “cloud” still mostly meant weather. Yet here we are—ten years, more than 40 cohorts, and hundreds of graduates later—still doing the work, and still adapting.
That’s what this moment is about: celebrating the journey and recommitting to the future. Code Platoon continues to grow because we listen—closely—to what our students need, and what the tech world is asking for. That’s why we’ve revamped our AI Cloud and DevOps Course, and are launching a new AI Fullstack Engineering curriculum, and even more training in product thinking and soft skills. We know what hiring managers are looking for—and we know our students, with their leadership and life experience, consistently rise to the occasion.
Affordability remains core to our model, too. And this year, we’ve made Code Platoon even more accessible—students can now use VA Education Benefits, including VR&E, or take advantage of our new “pay-what-you-can” scholarships. Either way, we’re working to remove financial barriers so cost doesn’t hold anyone back from a new future.
Of course, none of this happens without partnerships. Our donors, employers, alumni, and volunteers are in this with us—not just in name, but in the trenches. They’re mentoring students, running mock interviews, and opening doors.
Ten years in, the mission still matters. The team is still growing. And the need for strong, adaptable Veteran tech talent has never been greater.
Here’s to what we’ve built together—and what’s still to come.
