Boeing Invests in Veterans with $100K Grant to Code Platoon

The push to get veterans and military spouses trained for STEM jobs got a boost with the announcement of The Boeing Company’s $100,000 grant to Code Platoon, a web development boot camp for servicemembers.

Rod Levy, executive director of Code Platoon, calls the grant “recognition of the learning and hard work of the veterans, and their success in the market after leaving the program.”

Boeing is increasing their focus on veterans as one of their main “pillars” of investment. The world’s largest aerospace company has granted some $8 million to support efforts that help veterans and their families transition back into civilian life as part of their “Our Heroes: Veterans and their Families” initiative. In addition to veterans, Boeing has turned its attention to investing in youth education and local communities, with the company’s cumulative sum of nonprofit grants reaching $50 million for 2018.

Code Platoon will use the funds for staff development, fundraising, a new instructor and a marketing push to get the word out about Code Platoon’s unique opportunity for veterans and military spouses.

“This grant will be instrumental in helping us reach more veterans, and make a bigger impact,” Levy said. “This investment in our future growth will take us to the next level.”

Code Platoon was founded in 2014 with a focus on preparing veterans and military spouses for jobs in the booming tech industry. The non-profit offers admitted students guaranteed scholarships, taking the cost of the $13,000, 14-week immersive program down to just $2,500. The Chicago-based boot camp recently expanded its program to offer remote training for veterans or military spouses who cannot take classes at the downtown campus. Code Platoon students receive career assistance, with many embarking on paid internships at leading tech companies upon graduation.

The deadline to apply for the next Code Platoon cohort is November 13.