AMBASSADORS
Code Platoon Ambassadors (CPAs) help Code Platoon find companies to become corporate sponsors (“Sponsor(s)”) for our veteran and military spouse students. Code Platoon relies on our Sponsors (tech-enabled companies at least 20 software developers) to help our students transition from the classroom to their tech career. Specifically, Sponsors do two things:
- Commit to host one of our graduates for a 3 to 6 month paid apprenticeship.
- Support Code Platoon financially. This is not a requirement.
A message from Don Bora, partner and co-founder of Eight Bit Studios
What do I need to do to become a CPA? Here is your playbook (and download this flyer for more information or to send along).
REASONS FOR A COMPANY TO SPONSOR CODE PLATOON
- Sponsorship is a low-cost, low-risk way to get well trained junior developers in the door
- Veterans make great hires because they have demonstrated maturity, grit, leadership and excellent teamwork skills
- After the internship, there is no requirement to hire our graduates unless you want to hire them (which over 80% of sponsor companies do)
- Supporting Code Platoon is an easy way for a company to support a mission-driven nonprofit, while getting the benefits of a high quality talent pipeline
- Companies can get tax incentives for hiring veterans
HOW TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SPONSORS
- Talk to most senior Human Resources / Operations / Technology leader you know at your company and tell them that they should sponsor Code Platoon
- If your company has a Veteran Community Group, enlist the help of that group
- Even better, reach out to multiple folks, and better still, if they happen to be veteran or military spouse
- Do you know C-Suite leaders at other tech-oriented companies? If so, explain why they should sponsor Code Platoon, and then contact Rod.
- Once you have buy-in from leaders, connect them with Rod Levy (rod [AT] codeplatoon.org), and we will take care of the rest!
TYPICAL QUESTIONS FROM POTENTIAL SPONSORS
- What do the veterans and military spouses learn at Code Platoon?
- In the 14 week, 60 hour a week session, they learn Object Oriented Programming in Javascript/React and Ruby/Rails; Git, SQL, HTML, CSS, Agile, Test Driven Development.
- How are veterans and military spouses selected into Code Platoon?
- They are required to answer a series of coding challenges that demonstrate their desire and capacity to learn programming.
- Who are some of Code Platoon’s Corporate Sponsors?
- Our Sponsors include Coyote Logistics, DRW Holdings, Chicago Trading Company, Raise.com, Power Reviews, Grainger, and many more.
- What are the dates for apprenticeships?
- We hold 3 sessions a year. Apprenticeships typically begin a few weeks after a session ends. Sessions typically end in May, August and December.
- What does the apprenticeship/internship commitment mean?
- Sponsor companies commit to host a graduate in a software engineering role, for 3 to 6 months (company decides), paying $20/hour. At the end of the apprenticeship, the company can extend a full time offer (most companies do), but there is no requirement to do so.
- What is the financial commitment?
- We ask companies to contribute $10,000 to support our program, but this is not a requirement.
- Does the sponsor company get to choose the veteran or military spouse they want or they just commit to hosting one and get whatever CP assigns them?
- At the end of the 14 week program, Companies interview the students, and provide Code Platoon with a list ranking the students. Students likewise rank the companies. Code Platoon then matches the students with the Companies.
- Companies will not have to host a student who was ranked in the bottom half of their list.