When veterans leave the military, finding a new career path can be challenging. A growing field that many veterans are finding success in is the field of software engineering. One path to getting into software engineering is attaining a four-year degree in a related field. Another popular option is attending a coding boot camp to gain the skills to become a software engineer quickly. Several programs throughout the country offer in-person and virtual options, some even allow you to utilize your GI Bill benefits.
Greg Drobny, Student Recruitment & Community Outreach Manager, Code Platoon shared what he sees as one of the biggest challenges when veterans leave the military. “In my experience, the biggest thing veterans struggle with after leaving the military is a lack of sense of purpose. Specifically, tangible purpose – something they can look at and say they were a part of. Software engineering, although existing in the digital space, is inherently linked to work, and focused on the creation of a product that people can use. In other words, it’s not esoteric; it’s not a vague idea, but rather something you can make. This resonates very well with most veterans I speak to. While it may not address “purpose” in some overarching, philosophical sense, it is a tangible skill that can translate into the creation of a usable tool, which is a huge step in the right direction.”
The field of coding is also a great opportunity for military spouses who find themselves moving from base to base to support their service members’ moves. While many companies want people to start in person, many software engineers work entirely remotely. This was even well before the pandemic. This gives military spouses flexibility when searching for a career that can meet the needs of their families.
Software engineering is a great career for those who want to make something. As Greg Drobny puts it, “There aren’t many careers out there where one gets to create something new. Most jobs involve a great deal of repetition and effectively managing a pre-existing process of some type. In software engineering, a normal part of the job is coming up with something new to address a client’s needs. That means there is a unique and creative element.”
Another thing that makes software engineering different from many careers is the diversity of jobs available. Many companies require software engineers to do the work they do. On the outside, it might not seem that there is an opportunity to work as a software engineer. It is surprising to learn about the different industries connected to software engineering. A few examples are banking, defense, health care, theme parks, cloud computing, media companies, computers, website development, the list goes on.
Coding boot camps have an advantage over the college career path. The first advantage is time. Coding boot camps are short and have a high-intensity nature, meaning it will take less time than a four-year degree. The second advantage is how quickly they can adapt to changing technology. Technology change is rapid and fast, and a coding boot camp can change the curriculum quickly to keep up with the technology changes.
Code Platoon is different from the traditional coding program as it is not for profit and instead is a non-profit that offers coding boot camps exclusively for service members, veterans, spouses, and their children. Their coding boot camp allows people to jump into coding. This creates a community where all classes have a shared touch point of living some aspect of military life. Code Platoon has numerous funding options available to its students including scholarships and utilizing your veteran benefits.
If you are considering a career in software engineering, make sure to check out various coding boot camps and find what one is right for you. The Department of Veterans Affairs has resources to help veterans and their families jump into coding. Members may be able to use G.I. Bill, VR&E, and VET-TEC at various coding boot camps. Many coding boot camps also offer free programs to help you discover if coding is the right fit for you. Check out the Guided Application playlist as a functional beginning to your journey, as an introduction to the ever-important language of Python.
