3 Ways Veterans Use Military Training to Become Coders
Depending on how long you served, where you served, and your specialized training, your ideal career path may feel elusive. While going to college is an option, it will take at least two to four years to complete your degree, plus the added time of a post-graduation job search. The good news is attending a university isn’t your only option. Coding bootcamp is a fast-paced, affordable path for veterans where you can use your military training to become a coder.
Veterans Use Skills Developed In Basic Training
When you enlisted, you were thrown into basic training, an intense, in-your-face style of training like you’d never experienced before. It was the perfect regime to help you become a successful soldier. Coding bootcamp prepares you to become a developer in much the same way. It’s all about laying the foundation and building your skills in an intense, immersive experience. Because of the intensity and training style of coding bootcamps, veterans are usually perfect candidates. While coding bootcamp involves less in-your-face tactics, it still moves incredibly quickly and requires high-levels of focus.“I think veterans are great for technology because they are typically people who already march to their own drum. They like the mix of the tactile/esoteric/puzzle working parts of working with technology,” says Eleven Fifty Director of Admissions and veteran Dave Brunner. “We like to think of the future and what cool new toys or inventions may come. We are often ‘nerds’ anyway. Something about technology is easier for us to understand and work with than silly and unpredictable humans!”
Veterans Understand How Teamwork Works in the Real World
One of the biggest lessons you learn in bootcamp is the value of teamwork. Because veterans enter coding bootcamp with this knowledge and experience, you’ll be ahead of the game. Large sections of coding bootcamps are designed to teach you how to work within a team of coders. Not only do veterans already see the value in teamwork, but you understand how it works and how you specifically work within a team. During your coursework you might work with one other person or several other people, but your goal is to nail your specific section of the project and work with your team to bring all of the pieces together. Doing this gives you a better understanding of the software development lifecycle. But, perhaps more importantly, it gives you an inside look at how coders work in the real world.
Veterans Understand Mental Toughness and Grit
Your military training taught you to use initiative. Waiting around being told what to do isn’t typically the best course of action. If you wait, you could miss the perfect opportunity to accomplish something great. In much the same way, coders need to be self-starters. You need to constantly be learning and studying, relying on a similar kind of mental toughness and grit needed to in the military. To move up in your career, you’ll need to take it upon yourself to continue pushing your skills and knowledge. You’ll have expectations in your workplace setting, but eventually, to grow, you’ll need to move beyond those expectations. Self-starters understand that to advance, to grow, to be better, you have to take action and take training into your own hands. Veterans understand this idea and that’s why they make such great coders.“When I meet another vet, I know they have similar experiences as me. There is a bond and feeling of gratitude toward that person,” explained David Whitt, Eleven Fifty Director of Cybersecurity and a veteran himself. “Vets are hard workers and that work ethic and drive is what gets them through obstacles like a cyber bootcamp. A vet in my last class said, ‘I might not be the smartest student in the room but I’ll outwork everyone here.’ I love that attitude.”Think tech bootcamp is a great way for you to launch your career after being in the military? Meet with an Eleven Fifty Admissions admission to talk through your scholarship and funding options, understand our different bootcamps, and answer any questions you have. Here’s how bootcamp has impacted our alumni students. Use your GI Bill® benefits to learn to code or become a cybersecurity professional in just 12 or 14 weeks. If eligible, your benefits will cover the full cost of tuition and you will receive a stipend for books and housing.
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GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VAis available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
