Vets Who Code

Announcing big updates on Vets Who Code in our State of the Union Address! Get ready for an inspiring look at how we’re changing lives, one line of code at a time! ??

Hi everyone, Jerome here with some exciting updates from the Vets Who Code frontlines! Thanks to your incredible support, we continue to thrive in our mission to help veterans build meaningful careers in tech. Recently, we’ve been teaching new troops Python and getting them hands-on with real-world projects—pulling tickets, creating issues, and contributing to multiple active repositories. From AI and Python to TypeScript and Next.js, there’s something for everyone! On a personal note, I’ve transitioned into a mentorship role, focusing on knowledge sharing and guiding our troops to success. After 10 years of teaching and building, it’s humbling to see how far we’ve come, and I’m so grateful to have had your support every step of the way. Check out the amazing projects our community is building: ?? Vets Who Code App ?? Windows Dev Guide ?? Extension Pack ?? API List ?? Web Curriculum ?? Prework Repository ?? VetsAI ?? Scripts and Tools Each of these repositories reflects the dedication and talent of our incredible community. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re building a brighter future for our veterans and the tech industry. ????? #VetsWhoCode #CodingCommunity #Mentorship

Empower Heroes. Build Futures. Partner with Us This National Veterans & Military Families Month ?? Attention Companies and Organizations: As we honor the service and sacrifices of veterans and military families this November, your organization has a unique opportunity to create lasting impact. We equip veterans with the technical skills, mentorship, and support needed to excel in high-demand tech careers. This work isn’t possible without partners like you. ? Why Partner with Vets Who Code? ?? Impact: Your contribution directly funds training programs that transform veterans' lives. ?? Engagement: Show your team and customers your commitment to supporting veterans in their next mission. ?? Legacy: Help build a workforce of skilled, determined individuals ready to make a difference in tech. ?? How Your Organization Can Help: ?? Sponsor: Fund a cohort of veterans through our program and showcase your company as a champion for tech diversity and veteran empowerment. ?? Advocate: Share our mission within your networks to inspire more businesses to join the cause. ?? Donate: Make a corporate contribution to help us reach more veterans. https://lnkd.in/dQqrCDv Together, let’s honor our nation’s heroes by opening doors to opportunity and success in the tech industry. Partner with us to make a measurable impact during National Veterans & Military Families Month. ?? ???? Let’s build futures together. Connect with us today to learn more about partnership opportunities. #VetsWhoCode #EmpowerTheirNextMission #VeteransInTech #CorporateGiving #TechForGood

?? Honoring History, Heroes, and Heritage ?? November holds profound significance—it’s a time when we honor Veterans Day as we did last week and also recognize Native American Heritage Month. These two observances intersect in incredible stories of courage, service, and contribution that deserve to be celebrated and remembered. Did you know? Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at one of the highest rates per capita of any ethnic group. Their legacy of service spans centuries, from code talkers in both World Wars whose languages became unbreakable codes, to today’s tech-savvy warriors driving innovation in military and civilian roles. ????? As we salute all veterans, let’s also shine a spotlight on the under-told chapters of our military history: ???? The Code Talkers: Heroes from tribes like the Navajo, Cherokee, and Comanche who created unbreakable communication codes during World War II, saving countless lives. ???? The Warrior Tradition: Honoring the deep-rooted cultural values of courage and sacrifice that have inspired generations of Native soldiers. ???? Trailblazers in Tech: Modern Native veterans transitioning from the battlefield to groundbreaking careers in technology, continuing their legacy of leadership and innovation. At Vets Who Code, we’re inspired by all veterans, especially those whose stories often go unrecognized. This month, we’re celebrating these contributions by sharing stories that highlight the intersections of culture, service, and technology. ?? Join us in honoring these remarkable individuals. Share a story, comment, or connect with a veteran to learn about their journey. Let’s ensure their legacies are not only remembered but also inspire the future. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #VeteransDay #VetsWhoCode #MilitaryHistory #DiversityInTech

ICYMI: Veterans Day State of the Union ?? On Veterans Day last week, Jerome took the time to share an exciting State of the Union update for Vets Who Code. His message? Growth, innovation, and a continued focus on equipping veterans with the tools to thrive in software engineering. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening: ?? Shaping the Next Generation of Engineers Today’s junior developers need skills that match mid-level engineers from just a few years ago. That’s why we focus on performance testing, telemetry, and delivering programs that make a real-world impact. ?? Cohort Updates: Mark Your Calendars 2025 Cohort Dates: March 3 - July 31 We’ve aligned these dates with Military Appreciation Month (May) to showcase our talent when it matters most. Graduates will debut as junior software engineers, ready to join the workforce by Independence Day. ?? Curriculum Built for the Future + Python and AI are now central to our program, giving troops a head start in data engineering and generative AI development. + VetsAI, our personalized AI assistant, empowers troops with on-demand guidance—curriculum questions, resume tips, LinkedIn profile advice, and more. ?? Pioneering Open Source Leadership We now run six open-source coding projects, making Vets Who Code the only veteran nonprofit with consistently active projects in the tech space. These projects give veterans real-world experience while contributing to solutions that matter. ?? Playbooks for Success Inspired by military efficiency, we’ve started creating detailed documentation and playbooks to guide our troops through everything from the curriculum to project management. ?? Engaging the Community on LinkedIn We’re building rich, targeted content on LinkedIn to expand our reach and impact. From pre-work mentoring groups to community-driven initiatives, we’re doubling down on creating meaningful connections in the veteran tech ecosystem. ?? Catch the Full Address! Hear Jerome’s full update in the video here: https://lnkd.in/eSi_dste We’re honored to have your support on this journey. Together, we’re empowering veterans to rewrite their futures and transform the tech world.

?? Thinking Like a Programmer: A Vital Skill for the Future At the start of this week, our executive director Jerome Hardaway shared a piece of wisdom that’s shaping how our cohort approaches their learning: "Knowing how to THINK like a programmer is going to be more important than ever. Understanding the concepts will make the code itself less and less important. Knowing how to make an API is great, but soon you’ll need to decide which language the API should be in based on need." This advice resonates as our veterans dive deeper into building fast, reliable APIs with FastAPI and creating interactive tools with Streamlit. They’re not just writing code—they’re learning to ask the bigger questions: ? What’s the best tool for the job? ?? How do I adapt my solution to fit the problem? ?? How do I think critically and strategically as a developer? Are you ready to take on this kind of challenge? Our next live cohort kicks off in late March 2025, and there’s still plenty of time to complete the prework assignment and submit your application. If this kind of learning excites you, don’t wait—start your journey today and join a community dedicated to helping veterans excel in tech. [?? Apply Now – https://lnkd.in/em_PENqZ ] #VetsWhoCode #TechTraining #ThinkLikeAProgrammer #VeteransInTech #API #CodingSkills #FutureReady #VeteranOpportunities #TechForGood

From Service to Success: Bridging the Gap for Veterans According to a Pew Research Center study, only about half of veterans feel well-prepared for the transition to civilian life. This statistic underscores the challenges many veterans face when re-entering the civilian workforce. At Vets Who Code, we aim to bridge this gap by equipping veterans and military spouses with the skills and confidence needed to excel in a career in software development. Through expert training, hands-on projects, and dedicated mentorship, we help veterans turn their discipline, problem-solving skills, and adaptability into assets in the tech industry. ? How you can make an impact: ?? Support: Your donations provide critical training and resources for veterans. ?? Connect: Share this post or refer someone in your network to Vets Who Code. ?? Empower: Help us turn uncertainty into opportunity, creating success stories that honor their service in a new way. Let’s redefine what’s possible for our nation’s heroes. Join us in empowering their next mission. https://lnkd.in/dQqrCDv ?? ???? #VetsWhoCode #EmpowerTheirNextMission #VeteransInTech #NationalVeteransMonth #TechForGood

November is Warrior Care Month ??? — established by the Department of Defense in 2008 to honor and support wounded, ill, and injured service members, along with their families and caregivers. This observance raises awareness of their strength, resilience, and the comprehensive care available to aid their recovery and reintegration. We see this resilience in action every day. Veterans who’ve faced and overcome challenges bring unmatched determination to the tech industry. Our mission is to empower these warriors with coding skills, providing them the tools to thrive in the civilian workforce. ?? How We Contribute: + Offering free, cutting-edge coding training tailored for veterans. + Building a strong, supportive community of peers and mentors. + Helping veterans translate their unique experiences into rewarding careers in tech. This Warrior Care Month, we invite you to honor their journeys with us: ?? Share your story. ?? Tag someone who supports veterans or caregivers. ?? Let’s celebrate the resilience and contributions of those who’ve served. Together, we can amplify the message of care, community, and opportunity. #WarriorCareMonth #VeteransSupport #Resilience #VetsWhoCode #TechForGood

?? Learning Through Research: Exploring FastAPI and Streamlit This week, our cohort is not just building with cutting-edge tools—they’re learning to think critically about technology choices by asking the tough questions. As they continue creating fast, reliable APIs with FastAPI and exploring interactive web apps with Streamlit, they’re tackling a key research challenge: ?? Research Questions: ?? What’s a drawback of using FastAPI? For example, how does it handle large data schemas? What limitations might arise in these scenarios? ??? What’s a good alternative to FastAPI? They’re exploring frameworks that could meet specific project needs more effectively. ? What’s the biggest pro of using FastAPI? Why is it still the go-to for modern API development despite potential trade-offs? This kind of research-based approach doesn’t just teach them how to code—it teaches them how to think like developers, evaluate tools critically, and choose the right solutions for the problem at hand. ?? Tools in Action: ? FastAPI: High-performance API creation with modern Python features. ?? Streamlit: Simplifies building interactive dashboards and apps for sharing data insights. ?? Why it Matters: In tech, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of tools is just as important as knowing how to use them. These skills prepare our veterans to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and adaptability. ?? Want to connect with skilled, versatile developers who know how to solve problems and deliver results? Let’s talk about how Vets Who Code can support your team. #VetsWhoCode #TechTraining #Python #APIDevelopment #VeteransInTech #FastAPI #Streamlit #CodingSkills #VeteranEmployment #TechForGood

???? Empower Their Next Mission: From Service to Software ???? As we honor veterans and their families throughout National Veterans & Military Family Month, we’re kicking off our year-end campaign with one mission: empowering veterans and military spouses on their journey into software engineering careers. At Vets Who Code, we don’t just teach coding—we build futures. We help veterans transition from military service to high-demand roles in code through comprehensive training, mentorship, and hands-on experience. This month, we invite you to join us in supporting these dedicated individuals as they embark on a new mission. Here’s how you can make an impact: ? Support: Every donation provides critical resources and training for veterans moving into software development. ? Connect: Spread the word by sharing this post. Your network can help open doors for veterans. ? Empower: Together, let’s help veterans turn their skills into powerful tech careers, honoring their service in a new way. Thank you to all who support and stand with us in this mission to transform lives and create new opportunities. Your support makes “Empower Their Next Mission” a reality. ?????? Support our troops: https://lnkd.in/dQqrCDv #VetsWhoCode #EmpowerTheirNextMission #NationalVeteransMonth #TechForGood #SupportVeterans