Being a Teaching Assistant for Code Platoon’s Coding Bootcamp, I often hear questions from each new cohort concerning the pathway to becoming full-stack software developers. It can be nerve-wracking to undergo a training program of any sort, even more so when career prospects come into consideration. As someone who has had some success in the field thus far, I’d like to share my two cents on the going from the classroom to the workforce.

“Should I go for a Computer Science Degree or train with a Coding Bootcamp?”

Attending a Coding Bootcamp or obtaining a CS degree is forever debatable. 

In my personal experience, I have been selected over peers with the CS degrees for certain tasks, but that is not to say that CS degrees don’t have value. Traditionally, computer science degrees provide folks with the basic fundamentals of computer engineering. Additionally, those who hold CS degrees tend to end up in managerial roles. With Coding Bootcamps, you’ll be learning valuable skills that aren’t typically taught in the college classroom, and the hands-on approach to coding cannot be understated. The skills that you learn in a bootcamp are comparable to the workforce. Once in a job, you’ll likely see things done many different ways than you were taught, and the code base itself will be larger than your projects. However, the concepts and basic functionality will still apply.

Each of the education approaches have their own strengths and weaknesses and I will not value nor devalue either approach but rather say instead that both compliment each other well within a team! Regardless of what decision you come to, don’t stress on it. There will always be some companies that just stick to the degree out of principle for certain requirements but it’s fewer than you would think. Even some roles that claim to only be applicable for those with a traditional degree will take on Coding Bootcamp grads. On that note, if you do decide to go the Full-Stack Bootcamp route, as long as it is a reputable program and an in-demand coding language is taught, you’ll have a place in the workforce. 

“How do I know what Coding Bootcamp is right for me?”

Unfortunately, this is a question that only you can answer as there are a lot of different variables for different people. Cost, time spent in the classroom, length of the program and school networks such as alumni or internships are all factors that should be taken into consideration. Again, as long as the educator is reputable and provides training in valuable languages you should be able to land a job that offers great pay, benefits and opportunities especially as the world becomes even more embedded in tech.

Just do some research on the best Coding Bootcamps out there and line up what works best for you.

“Am I stuck in the language I learned or a certain position?” 

Starting out in the language you first learned how to code with would be ideal, but from my own experience… logic is logic and sometimes flexibility is needed. It is entirely likely that you may end up having to pick up an additional language while on the job to complete taskings, but if you’ve gone through a Coding Bootcamp you’ve already been armed with the tools to work through the challenge.

When it comes to applying for positions, “Full-Stack, Front-End, Back-End” are usually in the highest demand but you will learn that there are so many roles within this field and when it comes time to applying, the position doesn’t matter ‘right now’. Just be prepared to do any side of the stack as you will still be on a journey of learning throughout your career and may not know which end you actually prefer until later. Besides, your first job doesn’t have to be your forever job, but it could be if you like it enough. Just keep progressing at your pace and know that you are never truly locked into anything.

“I’m enrolled in a Coding Bootcamp but I’m not the most technologically literate person. Is it possible for me to make it as a software developer?”

My first interaction with coding was through a billboard on the road a few years back. It was an ad to work for USAA that asked a simple question, “DO YOU EVEN CODE?” At the time, I didn’t even know what it meant. I had worked in mostly ‘grunt’ jobs but over time I became more exposed to the world of programming and software engineering in part to friends in the field and a growing interest in the tech world.

What really got my gears started was signing up for some free workshops through General Assembly. I took some UX Design classes and coding courses but knew I had to commit to one or the other. While I enjoyed the creativity of UX more, I figured that coding would grant me more career opportunities and I don’t have any regrets so far with that decision. 

Anytime you learn a new skill, anxiety can creep in, and it is no different in a Coding Bootcamp. You’ll be challenged by some ‘basic’ tech stuff and that’s okay! It can be exciting to be pushed to new limits as well as a bit frustrating at times where it seems like most of your peers ‘get it’ and you’re still trying to wrap your head around ‘Hello World’ but I’ll let you in on a little secret when it comes to learning the trade. Working with the tech and tools is important, but understanding and using logic along with some critical thinking is ultimately the foundation of progressing in the field. The basics that you’ll be introduced to within your Coding Bootcamp or CS program are paramount to the success of your career, so don’t take them for granted.

Good luck out there and happy coding!

Jerry Rogers served as a Ranger in the US Army, is a graduate of UAF, and is a Teaching Assistant for Code Platoon. He learned software development through Skill Distillery and is currently working as a Full-Stack Developer II for Brinks Home. He doesn’t have a middle name but he does enjoy the outdoors. You can find him on LinkedIn. 

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell, once said, “If a leader doesn’t convey passion and intensity, there will be no passion and intensity within the organization.”  Here at Code Platoon, the heart and soul of that sentiment is found with our instructors, who give the necessary passion and intensity to guide our Veteran students through the 14-week course, getting them ready for the next steps in their careers.

Several of our instructors, Tom Prete, Ankur Shah, and Chad Mowbray, took the time to answer a few questions about what brought them to Code Platoon and how they view their roles in helping Veterans gain a foothold in the world of software engineering. For Tom and Chad, both Veterans themselves, they also see a great value in helping fellow Veterans succeed.

What drew you to coding? How did you end up here at Code Platoon?

Tom Prete: I first was interested in programming while I was getting my Finance degree, I realized I was more interested in building things in addition to being super curious in technology. So I told myself, “I will try this banking thing for a few years and if I really don’t like it I can always attend a Coding Bootcamp.” After working three years as a Treasury Analyst and determining that corporate banking was not for me, I attended Fullstack Academy (Coding Bootcamp) in the summer of 2017. I first learned about Code Platoon while preparing to go to Fullstack Academy and always followed Code Platoon’s growth. A position opened up at Code Platoon and as a Marine Corps Veteran myself I jumped at the opportunity to contribute to Code Platoon’s mission.

Ankur Shah: “I took my first programming class in 11th grade and really took a liking to it, but never really considered it to be my calling. However, I felt I had somewhat of a knack for it and decided to pursue a computer science degree when I got to college, in lieu of not knowing what else I wanted to pursue. I was looking for a new experience and teaching software seemed like a good mix of channeling my past skills and experience with software, while also pushing myself to learn how to teach the subject matter, which is how I landed at Code Platoon.

Chad Mowbray: “Right now I’m a PhD student studying Arabic poetry and I initially got into software engineering because I started getting interested in statistical analysis of poetry and digital humanities research methods, where you take a large Corpus and you look for patterns, and in order to do that effectively, you really need coding or an understanding of it. I started getting drawn into the more technical things, but I didn’t have the skillset and I never thought I would be able to do coding. It was very intimidating, I thought you had to be a genius at something like math and all those other stereotypes about coding. What actually pushed me into software development was having a kid and needing to find a career change. I found Code Platoon and things have gone pretty well since then.

What about Code Platoon sets it apart from other coding schools?

Tom: Code Platoon sets itself apart in that it truly provides a plethora of resources to best help our Veterans and Veteran family members land jobs in tech, beyond just teaching them to program. From our Beyond Tech series, after hour volunteer TA’s from professional developers, mentors, resume coaches, designated career prep time, and internships that lead to full-time roles most of the time from our apprenticeship partners. The amount of resources that our students receive is a magnitude more than any other coding bootcamp out there that I’ve heard of.  

Ankur: I don’t have any experience with coding bootcamps, so I can’t offer a good answer as to what sets Code Platoon apart. But from feedback from students, a lot of them say the career preparation included in our program is a nice plus. Aside from the instructional staff at Code Platoon who offer some behavioral and technical interview guidance, we also set students up with mentors and resume coaches, and mock interview sessions towards the end of the program, to prepare students for job interviews after graduating.

Chad: I actually didn’t even look into other coding schools, I heard about Code Platoon because a friend mentioned it to me. What I will say is that the main thing that sets Code Platoon apart from other programs is the support network. There is a real coherent and integrated experience, they don’t just sit you down and say, “ok this is how you code.” There is an emphasis on building a network that will help you in the future.

Are there any challenges to teaching Veterans? What are the benefits that counter any challenges you might have faced?

Chad: To be honest, I really enjoy teaching adults, people who have some life experiences and who are accustomed to being disciplined and hardworking and are motivated to tackle the challenges of coding and software development. In something like a high school setting you can always count on someone or even a few students who don’t want to be there, but with Code Platoon, everyone has that drive and it is a very supportive environment.

Tom: To be candid, the biggest challenge in teaching Veterans isn’t directly related to them being Veterans. Most have family responsibilities outside the classroom that require time and Code Platoon is an intensive full-time program, having to work 10-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. But that’s a challenge any mature working professional with a family will encounter. What’s great about teaching Veterans specifically is that they’re no stranger to hard work and working on a team. 

Ankur: While there might be some overlap between military training and learning how to become a software developer, software development offers many situations where there may be many ways to get to the desired solution instead of just following one path. There is a lot of decision-making involved, and as with learning anything new, it can be a challenge at first, but the high level of determination to succeed that our students come in with is key to their collective success.

Beginning, middle, or end. Which part of the training schedule do you enjoy the most and why?

Tom: The part of the training schedule I enjoy the most is when they’re working on their personal projects and their final group project. Seeing the culmination of learnings executed by creating these amazing projects in a matter of weeks just reinforces how far they’ve come and learned in 15 weeks. It really brings me joy.

Ankur: I definitely enjoy the end of our training program the most, where students get to use all of their newly learned skills and technologies to create real world applications. I think the beginning of the curriculum is definitely the most challenging and most important part of our program, as we teach a lot of basics and theory to our students, which is vital. The middle portion of the curriculum offers students a chance to start, “connecting the lego blocks,” and learning more about full-stack development, but the end is really where we get to see our students excel professionally.

Chad: I prefer the beginning, just because it’s a little more general, focusing on programming, teaching basic patterns and how to think like a programmer and not to just go along with the program. Things like how to think about an algorithm, and what data structures you can use. Just more general patterns that would be applicable to any language or task.

The instructors at Code Platoon are just one part of the greater team that helps the Veteran students, and the family members who attend our program, succeed. If you would like to know more info about building your future as a student at Code Platoon, please visit our website at www.codeplatoon.org and look more into our application process here.

Chip Lauterbach is Code Platoon’s Summer Social Media and Marketing Intern. He served in the United States Marine Corps and just recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Political Science. In his free time he spends time with his daughter and enjoys being outdoors. 

Servicemembers are notorious for their adaptability. Being flexible to stressful circumstances and wearing multiple hats for a particular career field is not just expected but necessary to serve in every MOS, AFSC, or NEC. With that said, however, it can still be daunting to shift gears from one industry to the next, but some challenges are worth pursuing. 

Julius Bautista, a Veteran and recent Code platoon graduate, is well versed in transitioning having been in several seemingly unrelated career fields. We interviewed him to get a feel for the shift in work experience.   

Tell  us about your military career?

During my senior year of high school, I enlisted in 2005 with an open contract and was assigned an electrical engineering position. The official title is Engineer Equipment Electrical Systems Technician, which can be a mouthful. I worked on diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing power generators under Combat Logistics Battalion 2, training for what should have been my first deployment. 

Unfortunately, my military career was cut short by worsening medical conditions halfway through my contract.  If there were a silver lining, those experiences shaped who I am today, but I do sometimes wonder what my life would have been like had I been given the proper care and treatment.

Getting out of the military, what was that like?

It was an experience. My world was turned upside down. I felt as if I let my unit down, but I also felt let down by them, which haunted me for many years. However, it also motivated me to push harder, and it gave me drive. After moving back to my hometown, I got a job with a trucking company doing third shift data entry. It was rough but it allowed me to save up. I made it my priority to get out of the burbs, so I saved up for my first apartment, filled out a college application with the University of Illinois, Chicago, and found a part-time job selling electronics at a Target store.

What is your approach to change?

My approach to life is generally free-spirited. Sometimes, I dread change, and sometimes, I seek it out. 

I decided to enlist in the military on a whim, but I was only 17 at the time, so I needed parental consent. My mom hadn’t been in the picture since I was an infant, so my father’s approval was the only option. Not wanting to risk rejection, I waited until midnight when he was asleep, and woke him up, knowing he wouldn’t be interested in reading whatever paper I had in hand. I asked him to sign it, just vaguely saying, “Hey, I need this for school,” so he’d sign it quickly and go back to sleep. I can’t say he was too pleased with my approach, but we just laugh it off these days, and he is quite proud of me now.

What was your college career path?

I went to college undeclared, with no real plan. I just wanted to explore a bunch of different subjects. It was hard to decide because I pretty much enjoyed every subject taught in school and most of the extracurricular activities I participated in during high school.  I tried gymnastics, journalism, cross country, A/V club, yearbook. The problem was, I enjoyed so many subjects, but I didn’t excel in any one area and was quite terrible in some. What made a difference was one professor, Dianna Frid, who said to me after class one day that I really should consider a career in the arts because, in her words, “you think like an artist, you speak like an artist, and you move like an artist.” It was flattering but undeniably also a great way to recruit students into the arts program.

How did you get interested in coding?

I got involved with a group called Packback Inc. The couple that started Packback started another organization in 2019 Play Together, to unite artists, musicians, and social impact groups under various projects. Now, that in itself doesn’t involve coding, but being engaged with Play Together and attending Packback’s Makespace events drew me into tech culture.

As for actual coding, I’ve dabbled since my teens, writing simple game modification scripts in C# and Java. In grade school, I had a photoblog, so that was my introduction to HTML and CSS.  After college, I joined an artist collective, learning event production and marketing shows for clients, which led to more proficiency with HTML and CSS. My first run-in with Python was through hobby projects, some of which influenced my professional work. A few of my shows utilized RFID tags and NFC-enabled phones to make paintings interactive. I took that concept one step further whenever I wanted to help friends and colleagues promote their shows.

If you’re not familiar with Nintendo’s “Amiibo” product line, they’re little figurines that interact with Nintendo games. For example, in Super Smash Brothers, scanning a Pikachu Amiibo loads up a computer-controlled Pikachu that you can train, team up with, and fight against. Usually, these digital sparring partners have power limits, but if you know what data to tweak, you can hack an Amiibo to give your Pikachu super fast speed and unprecedented levels of power. It can provide your game with new levels of challenge that didn’t exist before.

NFC tags can be purchased in bulk online. They don’t hold much data, so they’re easy and quick to program and modify. They fit nicely in coin capsules and can be safely covered with custom art.  I could crank out 20-30 of these in a day, and we would give them away as promotions for shows and events. It was a different way to advertise and that kind of stuff can be really appealing. It’s innovative, it’s different and it draws people in.

It is clear that art still plays a big role in your life, and you don’t want to separate the world of programming from art, but are there any similarities between the two for you? 

Have you ever tried attaching a succinct definition to ‘art’? It’s probably not as easy for most to conceptualize the meaning of art to conceptualize the essence of programming because coding comes with an objective purpose and tangible real-world goals.

It’s not that contemporary art lacks that tangibility, but its form of truth is more elusive, ethereal, and formless than logic. It comes from a place of emotional intelligence.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in life was picked up during my sophomore year of college, writing an essay on French theorist Roland Barthes’ piece “The Death of the Author”. My takeaway – art is not created by the artist but by the artist and the environment that surrounds them. A user’s interpretation of a work of art is equally as real as the artist’s intent because the world of art is subjective and interpretive.

In programming, the same relationship exists, except whereas the arts are concerned with the expression and interpretation of subjective truths, the logical world of programming is concerned with objective facts.  Both are equal forms of creation that have the power to transport you into other worlds, and as a creator, it feels natural to walk the line between these two fields.

What led you to enroll with Code Platoon?

The VA announced that it had a program for military folks to get into tech careers. VET TEC covered tuition for approved organizations. Code Platoon was one of the options available in Chicago, and after researching and comparing different programs, Code Platoon was the one that I felt was most earnest and authentic. Meeting with a few alumni and staff strengthened and reinforced the feeling that Code Platoon was invested in the future of their students, as opposed to simply pocketing tuition payments, which was very important to me. Committing to a second field can be frightening and anxiety-inducing, so it meant a lot to me to have a network that I felt I could trust and count on. 

You mentioned that you had experience with tech before Code Platoon. Did you encounter any learning curves?

Oh, for sure! I had been dabbling in tech on my own as a hobby, but in knowing that it was just and only that, dabbling, there was a lot of insecurity. It was imposter syndrome, and that’s a topic that came up a lot during the course. There’s so much value to assigning a name to that particular kind of doubt and knowing that you’re not alone in experiencing it. 

The other big learning curve is the linearity of software engineering. I noticed this, especially when pairing up with some of my fellow grads. My mind is so accustomed to jumping from idea to idea because that sense of liberty and play is crucial to developing a knack for subjective expression.

In regards to more logical expression, I sometimes felt a few steps behind, if not in an entirely different place in my mind at times, and I had to be proactive in working past that. The funny thing is, being more proficient with coding also benefits artistic practice. I feel more grounded, and I have a newfound sense of clarity and confidence. 

What would you say to somebody who is like looking into programming but doesn’t feel that they have the skillsets for the field? 

One thing that can make computer programming intimidating is the rapid pace at which it evolves. That can stoke fears of being inadequately prepared or, worse, becoming obsolete. There is a positive side to this, though because you’re not alone in picking up new technologies.

Everyone in the software engineering field shares the same responsibility of being prepared to continue learning and picking up new things. The world of programming may seem vast and daunting, but the same can be said of virtually any other field. In the end, it’s a matter of perspective. 

Veterans, in particular, develop a feel for the deep bonds and camaraderie that comes with enlisting in some of our nation’s longest-standing organizations. It’s incredible to me how Code Platoon emulates that. Not only do they support you through 15 weeks of intensive education, but they also provide a very active and engaging alumni network. That’s arguably more valuable than the course itself, but it’s part of the package and there’s no expiration to it.  

For any Veteran, active Servicemember, or military spouse looking for a career shift, Code Platoon may be the place to train. Apply today to be a part of the next cohort.

Amanda Michelle Gordon is Code Platoon’s Content Marketing Coordinator. She is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a student of SUNY New Paltz for Journalism and Sociology. In her free time, Amanda enjoys reading, the outdoors, and turning coffee into copy. You can find Amanda on LinkedIn and Twitter.

We’re showcasing the final group projects from the recently graduated November Platoon. During each Code Platoon Full-stack Software Engineering Bootcamp, our students form teams to create a capstone project that showcases the coding, development, and teamwork skills learned in the program.

First up is HedgeFun – a competitive, fantasy sports-style introduction to cryptocurrency.

Check out HedgeFun, presented by our November Platoon graduates.

The next project is for users that want to find the best location for their new home using a value-based approach. Four Veterans from November Platoon developed Livable. 

D8Nite is for couples who are tired of the same old date activities. The app allows couples to explore new and exciting date ideas based on their mutual likes and interests.

Check out six November Platoon graduates showcasing their coding, engineering, and teamwork skills in their capstone project, D8Nite.

The next team project from November Platoon is Baby Swiper. The app was created by a team of six Veterans and military spouses.

Baby Swiper is an app that lets you easily compare your favorite baby names with your partner’s. Finding baby names has never been more fun.

Trippy is for the unhurried roadtripper.  The app aggregates destinations and eliminates the guesswork to make planning your next road trip more fun.

The final project in our showcase – Code Room – was developed by four Veterans and Skillbridge students and highlighted their coding, development, and teamwork skills. 

Code Room is a web app for coding students. It allows coding students to collaborate on coding projects in real-time, compile their code, and receive instant feedback.

Check out Code Room presented by our November Platoon graduates.

May is Military Mental Health Awareness Month, and Code Platoon is proud to play a part in helping Veterans transition both into new careers and in their adjustment to civilian life. 

According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 30% of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health condition requiring treatment – approximately 730,000 men and women, with many experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression. Additionally, less than 50% of returning Veterans in need receive any mental health treatment, and the Veterans Administration reports that approximately 22 Veterans die by suicide every day.

These startling statistics indicate that many of our warriors come home wounded, if not physically, then mentally. Worse, they are likely not to receive the care that they require.

We all can play a part in changing these statistics. First, reach out to Veterans who suffer in silence or who may be reluctant to seek help. Second, pass along whatever support is available in their community or accessible beyond county lines. 

Code Platoon understands that Veterans face many barriers to care on their path to mental health and wellness and the unique needs of Veterans and incorporates these needs into our network and our training. We do so by partnering with organizations that understand our soldiers, like Road Home to Veterans.

The Road Home Program provides mental health care and wellness to Veterans of all eras, service members, and their families at no cost, regardless of discharge status. Modie Lavine, Program Director at Road Home, presents to every one of our training classes, explaining and offering their services. A cornerstone of the work that Road Home performs is their Intensive Outpatient Program (two weeks, in-person) and their regular Outpatient Program. Clinicians at Road Home deliver high-quality care and support while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Outpatient Program consists of weekly therapy sessions for Veterans, Servicemembers, and their families impacted by the invisible wounds of war. Treatment is available both virtually and in person in consultation with a clinician.

Our partnership with Road Home to Veterans is one facet of the network of Veteran Service Organizations that Code Platoon maintains to ensure that our Veterans get the help they need to have the best possible prospects in their life.

To learn more about Road Home to Veterans or to help support their mission, please visit their site found here.

To learn more about Code Platoon as a potential student or donor, please visit our homepage.

Lang Waters is a grant writer working in the Development department. Lang comes from a military family and is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego. He lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California, where he can be found hiking, making music with friends, or enjoying the company of his family and spastic golden retriever.