Empowering Veterans through DevOps Education: Insights from AWS re:Inforce 2024

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I’m an instructor at Code Platoon for the DevOps and Cloud Engineering program. I had the privilege of representing our organization at AWS re:Inforce 2024 in Philadelphia on June 10–12, 2024. This conference focused on cloud security and offered a wealth of knowledge and insights that I’m excited to bring back to enhance our curriculum and better prepare our students for careers in DevOps.

AWS re:Inforce is an annual conference organized by Amazon Web Services that focuses on cloud security, compliance, identity, and privacy. The event gathers experts, practitioners, and enthusiasts from around the world to share the latest advancements, best practices, and strategies in cloud security. This year’s conference featured a variety of keynote speeches, breakout sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities, all aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of cloud security and promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

I had the opportunity to represent Code Platoon at the conference and gain the following takeaways for implementation in our Veteran coding bootcamps.

Implementing Takeaways in Code Platoon’s Curriculum

Insights from AWS re:Inforce 2024 will significantly enrich our DevOps and Cloud Engineering bootcamp at Code Platoon. We are making a detailed plan to incorporate some of these learnings into our curriculum:

  • Integration of Automated Security Tools: We will introduce our students to automated security tools and frameworks, emphasizing their integration into CI/CD pipelines. We will add lessons on AWS security tools like AWS Config, AWS GuardDuty, and AWS Security Hub, which will help with compliance checks, threat detection, and incident response.
  • Leveraging AI Tools for Security: GenAI is still an evolving domain, but we plan to add some AI-powered AWS services, like Amazon Macie and Amazon Detective, for advanced threat detection and data protection.
  • Strengthening Secure Software Development Practices: Our bootcamp will place a greater emphasis on secure software development practices. We plan to integrate security testing tools like SonarQube and Nexus into our CI/CD workflows.
  • Enhancing Incident Response Training: We will develop a comprehensive incident response training module with simulated incident scenarios. Students will learn to create and execute incident response plans and conduct post-incident analyses.
  • Adding the GenAI module to our Curriculum: With the growing interest in the GenAI domain, we will add a whole module to learn about GenAI and its applications. We plan to teach lessons on using foundational models, adding custom training datasets, building agents, and building utility applications like PDF chatbots, image generators, chatbots, etc.

Integrating these advanced security concepts and practices into our curriculum will benefit our students, ensuring they gain practical experience with cutting-edge tools. Emphasizing security throughout the development lifecycle will instill a proactive security mindset in our students. They will learn to prioritize security from the outset, reducing vulnerabilities and improving the overall quality of their work. They will also learn to respond quickly to any potential threats.

Security skills are in high demand. By implementing these takeaways, our students will be well-equipped to meet the needs of modern DevOps and cloud engineering roles, enhancing their employability.

A Successful Visit to AWS re:Inforce 2024

Attending AWS re:Inforce 2024 was an invaluable experience for me as an instructor. The insights and knowledge gained from the conference will significantly enhance our curriculum at Code Platoon, ensuring that we continue to provide top-level education to our Veteran and military spouse tech students.

Chandra is a Senior Instructor at Code Platoon. He has extensive experience in software development and orchestration. He has previously worked with American Express, Development Bank of Singapore and another coding bootcamp. Chandra is a highly motivated and passionate teacher who believes in the power of education and creating and deploying beautiful software.

Whiskey Platoon Final Projects

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For 15 weeks, the Whiskey Platoon graduates dedicated themselves to honing their coding skills during the Full-stack Software Engineering: Immersive program. From AI-driven chess tutors to comprehensive class management tools and real-time chat apps, their final group projects reflect their dedication and growth. Join us in this blog as we explore and celebrate their remarkable accomplishments. 

Starting the project showcase strong, Cheap Chess Tutor leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help chess players improve their skills. New players can see suggested moves during real-time games with other players or computers. The app stores its data on a PostgreSQL database, so users can play multiple games simultaneously.

OpenAI powers the computer opponent. The team’s code translates the chessboard into text for ChatGPT 3.5 to analyze, then converts its responses back into JavaScript code, creating interactive visual effects for the user within a second.

“For many of us, this was the first time we had taken somebody else’s code and contributed enough to call it our own,” Drew, an active duty Airman, says. “It required a strong understanding of the code, which we gained through demos, reviews, and most of all, not being afraid to ask questions. Cheap Chess Tutor taught us the versatility needed to jump into any project and thrive.”

ChangeMate platforms social impact events and campaigns in a fun, social layout. The app offers organizers tools to promote their events, recruit volunteers, and assign tasks on a user interface created with React and Veet and enhanced using Bootstrap components. 

Individual users are motivated to host, volunteer for, and attend events for social causes by earning badges and recognition from the ChangeMate app. Part of the user functionality uses external and Restful APIs.

“Our vision was for ChangeMate to be more than just a social media platform,” Shawn, an Air Force Veteran and member of the ChangeMate team, says. “ChangeMate is a catalyst for positive change, bringing communities together to create a better world. We’re excited to embark on this journey with our users.”

The next team built Platoon Console, a class management tool for Code Platoon students and instructors. For students, the app streamlines their attendance records, manages pair programming, and provides a detailed class calendar and resources, including a searchable gallery of lecture videos. 

“We knew what students need from our own experience,” Landon, a Navy Veteran, says. “We frequently met with our instructors to define the scope of the classroom toolset and what information they need to collect on the platform.”

Based on their user research, the team designed the instructor side of the platform to check and approve attendance, which is stored on a back-end table of attendance records stored in SQL. Instructors can also select students to demo their code and generate random pairs or groups for assignments.

Transparent Budget Decisions (TBD) is a personalized finance app that tracks expenses and forecasts monthly expenses. Before writing any code, the team used Agile methods to determine their project scope.

“We created a whiteboard of potential features and categorized them based on our vision of the minimum viable product,” Weston, a Marine Corps Veteran who worked on TBD, says, “Each feature was broken down into a user story to determine its success criteria from that user’s perspective.”

TBD features an interactive calendar of transaction data and events, graphs the remaining budget using JavaScript against automatically deducted monthly transactions, and uses the Open AI API in the “Ask TBD” page, where users can receive instant answers from ChatGPT.

The last project in our showcase is Disclone, a full-stack chat application designed to provide users with a seamless communication experience. Users can join different channels or create their own. While on a channel, their messages are sent in real-time to other users via a WebSocket server built with Django and a Gunicorn server. The team deployed Disclone on an Amazon EC2 instance, packaged with a lightweight Docker container.

“Rather than focusing solely on creating a feature-rich application with what we already knew, our team saw Disclone as an opportunity to push the boundaries of our skills,” Jordan, an Air Force Veteran and Disclone developer, says. “We challenged ourselves by incorporating cutting-edge technologies we were eager to learn. These technologies not only enhance Disclone’s performance but also represent a significant milestone in our learning journeys.”

Pair Programming 101: A Guide for Aspiring Software Engineers

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Pair programming is when two software engineers create code together. It’s a powerful Agile development technique for software engineering teams and is a core part of my teaching approach at Code Platoon While many of my students are hesitant to start pair programming, this collaborative approach improves the quality of their coding and fosters stronger teamwork, creativity, and professional growth in every cohort. I know it can do the same for you, too.

3 Reasons to Learn Pair Programming

Adjusting from solo programming to pair programming is like eating spicy food. The first time you try it, you might not like it, but the more you experience it, the more you’ll get used to it and may prefer it. 

Here are three reasons to learn pair programming:

  1. Produce Higher Quality Code: On average, pair programmers spend about 15% more time solving a problem than individual developers, but their code will have 15% fewer defects than if they had worked individually. This may not sound like a lot, but it’s a massive improvement.
  2. Create Higher Satisfaction: Pair programming allows you to collaborate on interesting and challenging topics for your project. In an online survey of programmers, 96% stated they enjoyed working within pairs more than working alone. There’s nothing better than tackling a good problem together and working on a gratifying solution!
  3. Learn How to Work Together: Although you may prefer working alone, many software engineers work in teams, so knowing how to program together is essential for your professional development.

Ideally, your partner will be a more experienced developer who’ll share new tips and tricks. But even if you’re programming with someone less skilled, you’ll still be exposed to different problem-solving approaches.

How to Pair Program

First, decide how to meet with your partner and share your code. Zoom and Visual Studio Live Share are both friendly tools that I recommend. Next, create the requirements for your project and decide which role you’ll each take:

  1. Driver: If you’re the Driver, you interpret the ideas for your project into code. You’ll sit at the computer or share your screen and start programming. As you code, you’ll listen to feedback from the Navigator and continuously verbalize your thoughts, concerns, and any questions you have as you’re working. 
  2. Navigator: As the Navigator, you review the code as the driver writes it to ensure it meets your project’s requirements. Don’t just provide answers to the Driver or try to lead the Driver into solving a problem exactly as you would. Instead, suggest how the Driver could steer their code to meet the requirements.

Once you establish roles, you can move on to problem-solving and writing code. Pair programming shouldn’t be silent or divide-and-conquer; you and your partner should continuously communicate about the vision for your project.

Generally, don’t aim to pair program for more than an hour at a time. Working for longer than that quickly becomes draining. Take a break if the project needs more time; you can always meet again for another session.

At the end of this process, you and your partner should leave with higher confidence in your code. Before departing, you and your partner should also provide constructive feedback to each other and ask any questions you may have from the process. And that’s pair programming in a nutshell!

Francisco is the Lead Full-stack Software Engineering Instructor at Code Platoon. He served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years as an Infantry Mortarman and an Infantry Combat Instructor. Francisco graduated from Code Platoon’s Full-stack Software Engineering: Immersive Romeo Platoon and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He enjoys running with his dog, hiking with his family, and reading in his spare time.

Maximizing the GI Bill at a Coding Bootcamp

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The GI Bill® has long been a cornerstone of military benefits, offering Veterans and Servicemembers a path to educational and career advancement. While many associate the GI Bill® with traditional college degrees, its scope has significantly widened to include an array of vocational and technical training programs catering to the evolving career landscapes of today’s workforce. One such opportunity is coding bootcamps, like Code Platoon, which are designed to equip participants with in-demand tech skills in a condensed timeframe.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, with its broad coverage, includes non-degree programs at technical schools. Eligibility is straightforward: service after September 10, 2001, for at least 90 days, receiving a Purple Heart, or an honorable discharge with a service-connected disability after at least 30 days of continuous service. The Forever GI Bill enhancements mean no expiration for benefits for those discharged after January 1, 2013.

This GI Bill covers tuition and fees based on service length, directly paying the school. It also provides a monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on the school’s zip code and the student’s enrollment status.

FAQs: Your GI Bill Benefits for Bootcamps

Can the GI Bill be used for coding bootcamps?

Yes, the GI Bill can be used for coding bootcamps approved by the VA. It’s essential to verify that the bootcamp you’re interested in is eligible for GI Bill funding.

Is a coding bootcamp beneficial for Veterans?

Absolutely. For Veterans aiming to transition into the tech sector, coding bootcamps offer a streamlined, focused path to acquiring the necessary skills without the time commitment of a traditional degree program.

How do I choose the right bootcamp?

Consider VA-approved VET TEC training providers and those offering scholarships or money-back guarantees for job placement. Research, reach out to bootcamps directly, and connect with fellow Veterans who have taken this path to gather insights and make an informed decision.

Can I use the GI Bill at Code Platoon?

Code Platoon’s in-person programs are open to Veterans eligible for GI Bill benefits. In-person students can have tuition fully or partially covered, alongside receiving a stipend for a housing allowance equivalent to an E-5 with dependents BAH.

The GI Bill has evolved from a measure to support post-war education to a flexible tool for career transformation. For Veterans eyeing the tech industry, programs like Code Platoon represent a golden opportunity to leverage their GI Bill benefits toward a dynamic and fulfilling new career path.

Jim Hennessey is Code Platoon’s Director of Marketing. Jim brings a strong background in nonprofit marketing and start-up enterprises to the mission of Code Platoon. Jim is a graduate of Clemson University and currently lives in Chicago. Follow Jim on LinkedIn.

5 Essential Soft Skills for Software Engineers

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In the dynamic world of software engineering, mastering the art of coding and familiarizing yourself with the latest technologies are pivotal steps toward building a successful career. However, for Veterans and military spouses embarking on this journey, it’s crucial to recognize that technical prowess alone doesn’t guarantee success. According to the Career Education Review, a staggering 97% of employers believe soft skills significantly impact job performance, underscoring their importance in the professional arena.

While there’s a broad consensus on the value of soft skills for software engineers, identifying the most crucial ones can be a subject of debate. Here are five essential soft skills that every software engineer should cultivate to not only excel in their roles but also propel their careers forward.

Communication

Clear and effective communication is the cornerstone of success in any role, and software development is no exception. The ability to articulate complex technical concepts understandably to non-technical team members is invaluable. It ensures that user requirements are accurately interpreted and met, facilitates seamless collaboration, and bridges the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

Leadership

Leadership extends beyond a managerial position; it’s about inspiring and guiding your peers toward achieving collective goals. For software engineers, leadership involves mentoring fellow developers, fostering a culture of open communication, and leading by example. The ability to motivate your team, articulate a clear vision, and navigate through challenges sets competent engineers apart from truly exceptional ones.

Critical Thinking

The world of software development is filled with complex problems and challenges. Critical thinking enables engineers to analyze situations, identify patterns, and devise innovative solutions. It’s about approaching problems with a creative mindset and a willingness to explore unconventional solutions. 

Time Management

Software projects often come with deadlines and competing priorities. Effective time management is a non-negotiable skill for software engineers. It’s about prioritizing tasks, setting realistic deadlines, and delivering quality work within stipulated timelines. 

Self-Learning

The tech industry is always evolving, with new programming languages, frameworks, and technologies emerging at a rapid pace. Self-learning is a critical skill that allows engineers to stay ahead of the curve. It involves a proactive approach to personal and professional development, a curiosity to explore new domains, and the resilience to overcome learning challenges. 

As Veterans and military spouses transition into the world of software engineering, embracing these soft skills alongside technical expertise can enhance their career prospects. It’s not just about coding; it’s about building a well-rounded skill set that includes communication, leadership, critical thinking, time management, and self-learning. These skills could be the difference that distinguishes a competent software engineer from an outstanding one.

Jim Hennessey is Code Platoon’s Director of Marketing. Jim brings a strong background in nonprofit marketing and start-up enterprises to the mission of Code Platoon. Jim is a graduate of Clemson University and currently lives in Chicago. Follow Jim on LinkedIn.

Transitioning Out of the Military? Discover How SkillBridge Can Help You Succeed in Your Next Career

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Are you a US military member preparing to transition out of the service and wondering about your next career move? Look no further than the DoD SkillBridge program—a valuable program designed to assist Servicemembers in gaining civilian work experience before they separate from the military.

What is SkillBridge?

SkillBridge—also known as the Career Skills Program (CSP) in the Army—is an innovative program that allows eligible military members who are within their last 180 days of service to participate in civilian job training, internships, and apprenticeships during their last 180 days of service. This program provides a unique opportunity for transitioning Servicemembers to gain valuable skills and experience in a civilian workplace, helping them seamlessly transition into the workforce.

How Does SkillBridge Work?

Servicemembers can explore a wide range of approved SkillBridge programs offered by participating companies and organizations. Once a suitable opportunity is identified, Servicemembers can apply and, upon acceptance, begin their training or apprenticeship during their final 180 days of service.

Benefits of SkillBridge for Transitioning Servicemembers

  • Hands-On Experience: SkillBridge provides hands-on experience in a civilian work environment, allowing Servicemembers to apply their military skills to real-world scenarios.
  • Industry Connections: By participating in SkillBridge or the Career Skills Program, military members have the opportunity to network with professionals in their desired industry, potentially leading to job offers post-service.
  • Smooth Transition: SkillBridge helps ease the transition from military to civilian life by providing practical work experience and in-demand skills for the job market.
  • Career Exploration: SkillBridge allows Servicemembers to explore different career paths and industries, helping them make informed decisions about their post-military career goals.
  • Resume Building: Completing a SkillBridge program adds value to a Servicemember’s resume, demonstrating their commitment to professional development and readiness for civilian employment.
  • Financial Support: In addition to gaining valuable experience and skills, Servicemembers will continue to receive military stipends and benefits while participating in SkillBridge or the Career Skills Program.

SkillBridge and the Career Skills Program are fantastic resources for US military members preparing to transition out of the service. By participating in these programs, Servicemembers can gain valuable experience, build connections, and enhance their employability in the civilian workforce. Take advantage of SkillBridge today and pave the way for a successful transition into your next career!

Greg Drobny is a former Airborne Infantryman, PSYOP Team Chief, political consultant, professional military blogger, and Code Platoon’s Student Outreach and Recruitment Manager. He holds a BA and MA in history and an MS in organizational psychology. He is married with four children who keep him more than slightly busy, and he is passionate about helping Veterans find their paths in life and develop the skills needed to pursue their goals.

DevOps E&W Alpha Platoon Final Projects

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Code Platoon celebrated DevOps and Cloud Engineering Evening & Weekend Alpha Platoon graduation on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Five dedicated Veteran and military spouse students immersed themselves in DevOps methodologies and tools throughout the course. Their DevOps and Cloud Engineering: Evening & Weekend program culminated in two final projects showcasing their proficiency with DevOps principles, technologies, and tools.

Let’s explore the final projects presented during their graduation ceremony.

Pokeclone

First up was the Pokeclone team comprising of a Marine Corps Veteran, an Army Veteran, and an Army spouse. Their project deployed Pokeclone, a Pokemon game developed by our Full-stack Software Engineering Victor Platoon graduates.

The Pokeclone team used DevOps tools like Terraform for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and Docker for Containerization to automate and streamline deployment on Amazon Web Services (AWS). By adding DevOps features like Cloudwatch for monitoring performance and Amazon EventBridge for continuous testing, the DevOps graduates improved the security, efficiency, and scalability of the PokeClone web application. 

“My favorite part of working on Pokeclone was the collaboration. Each team member brought a diverse skill set and was dedicated to the deployment of our project,” said Edwin Quito, a Marine Corps Veteran. “From building the AWS infrastructure and Dockerizing the application to implementing CI/CD through GitHub and configuring the Kubernetes manifest files, every step was a testament to our collective effort and expertise.” Check out their final project presentation.

Dino Stocks

The Dino Stocks team of a Navy Veteran and an Army Veteran prioritized scalability and rapid deployment of their final project. Leveraging Github for version control and Github Actions for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), the Veterans established a resilient infrastructure that deploys updates to the Dino Stocks web app in just three minutes.

The team deployed Dino Stocks to Amazon EKS, and their Agile sprints enabled the swift completion of their project. 

“Diving into Kubernetes and Docker was my favorite part of working on this project,” said Chad Thompson-Smith, Navy Veteran and DevOps E&W Alpha Platoon graduate. “A major hurdle we faced was effectively configuring the frontend to backend communication. The game-changer was when we implemented an NGINX layer, acting as a proxy to streamline our React app’s configuration. This strategy significantly reduced the need for front-end code alterations.” See the DevOps and cloud engineering practices on display in the team’s Dino Stocks final presentation.

To check out Code Platoon’s DevOps & Cloud Engineering program, head over to our YouTube channel where you can watch recorded DevOps class lectures or start learning Python with our free Intro to Coding Python playlist.

Military Spouses: From the home front to the tech front

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Navigating the professional landscape can be challenging for military spouses, whose career paths often need to be adaptable to the demands and unpredictability of military life. Software engineering and development offer an ideal solution, providing the kind of flexibility and resilience that aligns perfectly with the unique needs of military spouses seeking a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Military spouses often find themselves in a constant cycle of job hunting and career readjustment, trying to find meaningful employment that can accommodate their transient lifestyle. The traditional 9-to-5 job can be impractical, with moves every few years limiting long-term career development in any location. Moreover, employers may hesitate to hire military spouses, fearing their tenure will be short-lived. These factors contribute to higher unemployment rates among military spouses than their civilian counterparts.

Why Software Engineering?

The tech industry is known for growth, a high demand for skilled professionals, and flexibility. Software engineering, in particular, offers the possibility of remote work, adaptable schedules, and a culture of inclusivity and continuous learning. These attributes are not just desirable but necessary for military spouses who need careers that can move with them and grow as they do.

Code Platoon specializes in transforming Veterans and military spouses into highly skilled software engineers. Our program is designed to teach the full web development stack, including Python, Django, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Importantly, no previous programming skills are required to start this journey. Code Platoon also provides flexible learning options like remote /virtual, full-time, and evening and weekend programs. 

Proven Success

The effectiveness of Code Platoon’s approach is clear in our outcomes. In the last two years, 74% of our graduates have found software engineering positions within six months of completing the program. The impact on their financial well-being is significant, with a median starting salary of $85,000. This figure rises to an impressive median salary of $115,000 within 24 months.

A Path Forward

For military spouses, Code Platoon represents more than just an educational opportunity; it’s a pathway to a rewarding career that accommodates the realities of military life. Code Platoon provides remote learning options designed to accommodate the demands and challenges of life as a military spouse. Code Platoon also offers a range of full and partial scholarships for military spouses. More than 90% of military spouses received financial support last year alone.

“A major benefit of attending Code Platoon was the financial assistance. As a spouse, I wasn’t eligible for the GI Bill or VET TEC. Still, I received a full military spouse scholarship, making it possible for me to pursue a career in Software Engineering without worrying about the financial burden of paying for tuition, “ said Lily Yang, Army spouse and Sierra Platoon grad.

“Being a military spouse has shaped me with adaptability and resilience. As a spouse, I had five jobs in five different industries. I think spouses excel at project management and quick turnarounds. We’re flexible and resilient,” said Hui Zhao, who graduated from Code Platoon’s Evening and Weekend program.

The journey of a military spouse is one of resilience and adaptability. Code Platoon recognizes and honors this journey by providing a practical, supportive route to a career in software engineering. If you’re a military spouse seeking a rewarding career that matches your lifestyle, consider the transformative power of Code Platoon. 

Jim Hennessey is Code Platoon’s Director of Marketing. Jim brings a strong background in nonprofit marketing and start-up enterprises to the mission of Code Platoon. Jim is a graduate of Clemson University and currently lives in Chicago. Follow Jim on LinkedIn.

QuickPass: The Fast Lane to Software Engineering Success

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Are you a Veteran, Servicemember, or military spouse ready to transition to tech? Do you prefer hands-on learning experiences with immediate results? Look no further than QuickPass: an accelerated route to joining Code Platoon. 

QuickPass isn’t just another application process; it’s a dynamic enrollment method tailored for prospective students ready to hit the ground running. Completing QuickPass guarantees acceptance for Code Platoon, ensuring a seamless transition for aspiring coders. The classes—occurring three evenings per week over a period of three weeks—blend lectures and hands-on practice with a dedicated instructor, equipping participants with the foundation to thrive in intensive coding bootcamps.

“My biggest motivator for enrolling in QuickPass was to learn programming fundamentals quickly and with a live class,” said Neka Blair, a military spouse who completed QuickPass to Whiskey Platoon. 

“Having an instructor specifically for our session helped me and my classmates cement the coding concepts. When someone had a question or needed something explained, the instructor was right there to guide us. We would get immediate feedback on our practice work.”

Beyond mastering the fundamentals, QuickPass provides comprehensive support throughout the enrollment process for Coding Bootcamp. Participants work closely with our enrollment team, coordinating VA benefits and scholarships, completing SkillBridge requirements, and enrolling in the upcoming program of their choice.

“I enjoyed QuickPass. It was intense, but the class pace was doable,” said Neka. “Having live instruction, practicing coding daily, and tackling the coding challenges during QuickPass were all invaluable. I went from barely any coding experience to nine hours per week of QuickPass sessions to now 40 hours per week in the Immersive Bootcamp. It was a great way to ramp up to the program.”

In our initial trial, nine QuickPass participants transitioned to the Full-stack Software Engineering: Immersive program, solidifying QuickPass as a pathway to success.

“I won’t lie, QuickPass required a lot of us, but we grew from the experience,” said Neka. “QuickPass showed me how much I can learn and that I’m capable of great things. It definitely prepared me for Code Platoon.”

Whether you’re starting with minimal coding experience or looking to enhance your skills, QuickPass empowers you for your transition to tech. Enroll in our next QuickPass session and take the first step toward accelerating your coding journey.

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.

Commanding the Cloud: An Air Force Veteran’s Journey to DevOps Engineering

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Veteran Officer Chris “Dizz” Dzikowski spent his service supporting Air Force personnel. When he left the military because of a family emergency, Dizz traded working in the clouds for deploying Cloud-based software as a civilian DevOps Engineer. His transition showcases how military skills combine with software expertise, helping him and other Veterans master DevOps and Cloud Engineering at Code Platoon and beyond.

The former Air Battle Manager’s journey began when he enlisted in the Air Force in 2007 to enter computer networking. Dizz was only in IT Systems Operations for about a year, but it introduced him to his DevOps career.

“Many DevOps fundamentals still resemble their Systems Operations roots: ensuring technical systems perform optimally. DevOps is just implemented with Cloud computing,” Dizz says. “When I first got into tech, the Cloud didn’t exist, so the systems I used to work with were all tied to physical servers in different locations. Now, the Cloud connects a global network of these servers, so the resources I need are available on demand 24/7. It’s a paradigm shift.

The best way to understand DevOps is by breaking down the word itself. ‘Dev’ stands for developers, the people who create software applications, while ‘Ops’ refers to operations, which includes managing the application’s network, storage, and maintenance. By combining these roles, ‘DevOps’ enables professionals like me to rapidly iterate and automate essential deployment operations, ensuring smooth and predictable software deployments.

Dizz left his IT AFSC behind for more responsibility as an Air Force Officer. He developed problem-solving and risk-management skills essential to both his Officer role and future DevOps career, but his thirst for tech challenges remained unquenched.

A turning point would arrive from an unlikely source:

“I read a book about a car parts manufacturer using DevOps philosophy to turn the company around,” Dizz says. “It was fiction, but DevOps Engineering and its applications resonated with me. It reminded me of what I loved about tech.”

The novel couldn’t have come at a better time. After fourteen years in the Air Force, Dizz was sent back down the technology path by family and, later, international emergencies.

When family needs back home in Chicago arose, Dizz applied to separate from the Air Force before his retirement date. On the positive side, returning to Chicago would allow him to apply tor Code Platoon’s In-person Software Engineering Bootcamp via the DoD SkillBridge program for transitioning Servicemembers. Unfortunately, the rising conflict in Ukraine revoked Dizz’s SkillBridge plans, but he uncovered an even better option: Code Platoon’s first DevOps and Cloud Engineering Bootcamp.

“It was an easy choice. Code Platoon had the only DevOps training program I found. It was designed for the military community, the program included essential AWS certifications in the Cloud Engineering curriculum, and my tuition was completely paid for by a Veteran scholarship.”

Dizz worked hard during Bootcamp and gained hands-on experience from real projects deploying web applications. After graduating, he was selected as a DevOps Engineering apprentice with corporate partner Geneva Trading, where he immediately dove in.

“I started participating meaningfully in my team’s projects on my first morning. I began making changes to our software after only one week. I still use Bash scripting on Linux, AWS deployment, and Ansible configuration management daily. Code Platoon perfectly prepared me to be a DevOps Engineer,” he says.

Every day on the job is different, but Dizz’s favorite part is problem-solving. He loves learning how to apply his toolset to the processes the DevOps Engineering team already has in place.

“Last week, I needed to containerize and deploy a Java executable. Even though I hadn’t used Java much, I learned how to apply my DevOps skills from Code Platoon to the new tools I was given and deployed the product.”

Another benefit to Dizz’s apprenticeship has been experiencing the fast-paced, high-impact environment of technology at Geneva Trading and learning from his new colleagues.

“One of my major concerns transitioning out of the military was the potential lack of purpose in the civilian world, but my apprenticeship at Geneva Trading has been dynamic and purposeful. Geneva is in growth mode, which means that operations are swift. I contribute significantly every single day,” Dizz says. “I work with great people. The snacks in the breakroom are great too!”

“I’ve learned Veterans make excellent DevOps Engineers because we’re unphased by change. DevOps moves fast as technology advances, but change is the way of life for us. Leaving the military mid-career was a little scary, but I’m glad I made the career shift. If I had to go back, I’d definitely embrace this opportunity again.”

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.