An opinionated guide on transitioning from the military to a career in software. Originally presented in coordination with SC Codes (sccodes.org) as "Tech for Transitioning Service Members"

1. boots2nerd
an opinionated guide on transitioning from the military to a career in software

2. Kris Gholson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisgholson/
https://github.com/krisgholson
https://idea2.dev
Coast Guard Academy Class of 94
Government major :-(
9 years active CG service
(buoy tender + 9/11 recall + intel)
18+ years software industry
(consulting + defense contracting + startups)

3. Target Audience
Transitioning service men and women
and their families
Really .. anyone interested in getting
started in software and willing to be
hands-on (writing code)

4. Why learn to code?
(According to Maslow)
Self-fulfillment needs = creative
Psychological needs = challenging + team
Basic needs = many jobs with good pay

5. Why software companies need you (military)?
Mission focused
Team first
Leadership
Professionalism

6. How should you do it?
Here is where it gets opinionated!

7. –Plato
“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and
ignorance.”

8. Ethiopian Proverb
“Give advice: if people don’t listen let adversity teach
them.”

9. sccodes.org
https://www.sccodes.org/
Free! programming courses for all South Carolinians
Frontend Certification Pathway (javascript concepts, frontend basics,
React applications)
Community with mentors! Slack! Use this.

10. freeCodeCamp
https://www.freecodecamp.org/
https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn
Supplement as needed
Go deeper when you know where you want to specialize
Don’t get bogged down in learning everything!

11. Gatsby
(this is frontend stuff)
Framework for building websites: https://www.gatsbyjs.com/
DO THESE TUTORIALS:
https://www.gatsbyjs.com/docs/tutorial/ (latest version - still being built)
https://v2.gatsbyjs.com/docs/tutorial/ (older version of Gatsby but better coverage)
Other things you will learn on the way .. command line, GitHub, basic web stuff, Visual Studio
Code, GraphQL

12. Serverless Framework
(this is backend stuff)
You’re a developer & problem solver first (frontend / backend / full stack
second) - so learn some of both
https://www.serverless.com/
https://www.serverless.com/learn/ (Full-Stack Application Development
on AWS and Serverless for Frontend Developers)
Other things you will learn on the way .. AWS, Cloud, Databases,
Authentication

13. Resume Hacks
Don’t do it the old way (unless you really have to)
LinkedIn - don’t forget your certifications!
GitHub - your portfolio of code

14. Prep Hacks
Use Google - Literally USE! GOOGLE
Google VetNet: https://careersonair.withgoogle.com/events/vetnet-
career-week-2021
https://grow.google/veterans
https://g.co/vets
https://www.gun.io/ (mostly senior talent - but stretch!)

15. Job Search Hacks
Use your network! (don’t forget about sccodes.org)
LinkedIn
https://www.gun.io/

16. QUESTIONS?