by Jake Worth on September 21, 2017

Hashrocket's collaboration with Code Platoon continues this October!

For the past three cohorts, Hashrocket has taught an intensive all-day workshop at the Code Platoon bootcamp. Here's a description of this unique developer training program, from their website:

Code Platoon is a Chicago-based non-profit program exclusively for veterans. We’ll teach you full-stack development over the course of 20-weeks (6 weeks remotely, 14 weeks in our Chicago classroom), and train you to be eligible for paid internships and full-time employment as a web developer. No previous programming experience is necessary.

In this post, I'd like to talk about this important program, and what we offer to it.

The world needs more programmers; there's a mountain of work to be done. Code bootcamps rise to this challenge by recognizing that a college degree isn't enough, or perhaps even required, to do what we do, and that the fundamentals can be learned in a short time.

Code Platoon is unique because they only select military veterans who pass a rigorous selection process. These veterans have served our nation, and for that we owe them our gratitude. They come to the program with unique life experiences, maturity, and character that makes them a special group.

When I transitioned from the military to programming, Code Platoon didn't exist. I taught myself and learned by making mistakes. On a personal level, I am grateful that other veterans are finding a path to this industry, one that is well-lit, less haphazard, and can be navigated as a team.

Our workshop in October is our fourth with Code Platoon. Jack Christensen and I will be teaching an in-depth workshop about databases, a favorite subject in our office.

We'll start with an overview of persistence, move into hands-on work covering the major SQL concepts, wind down with a data-modeling exercise, and wrap up with developer Q & A. I'm excited to meet the fourth cohort, Delta Platoon, and share our passion for databases.

Teaching is an integral part of Hashrocket's culture, and we relish the opportunity to share our expertise. This combined with a mission we believe in is a win-win.

Thank you to Code Platoon for inviting us back for a fourth workshop, to Hashrocket for sponsoring this ongoing engagement, and to Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta Platoons, and all veterans for your service.