Code Platoon

In the overwhelming sea of bootcamp options, it's hard to imagine a better option than Code Platoon for members of the military community (I attended as a military spouse). From its emphasis on diversity & inclusion (so many scholarships available to under-represented communities) to its consistent willingness to re-assess the program curriculum, Code Platoon is a well-structured, intensive program that teaches the hard technical skills you would expect from a coding bootcamp along with invaluable guidance on necessary soft skills for those entering a new career.

The team is very explicit about the time demands of the course, but a welcoming support network of teaching assistants and alumni are always available, whether you're stuck on a concept from the day's class or wanting to dive a level deeper with an experienced developer.

As many have touched on here, getting the most value from the program requires more than completing the minimum requirements, and I highly recommend leveraging the provided community resources, from individual mentorship to resume reviews to job search assistance.

I have nothing but gratitude for the entire Code Platoon experience.  Life-altering may sound extreme, but that was genuinely the case for myself and many of my peers.

Everything about the cohort is intelligently planned and designed.   From dedicated instructors to an expansive network of TA's, mentors, career coaches, and speakers, Code Platoon makes every conceivable effort to prepare its students for a career in tech.

They're honest, transparent and forthright from the very start.  They remind you that the course is a full time commitment, and what's expected of you is that you put in your all.  The work is abundant, but the instructors are realistic and practical.  I and several of my cohort's graduates worked extremely hard, putting in several 12 hour days and pushing through consecutive weekends, but entirely by choice.  Regardless of the workload, the instructors always reminded us to prioritize family and self-care, and to build a healthy work-life balance.

You can expect instructors, TA's, and mentors that will bring their all to the table.  If you place your trust in the program, you can rest assured they'll have your back all throughout the cohort, and afterwards as well.

Code Platoon is absolutely a vehicle to make your life better, as long as you're willing to work hard. If you pay attention, learn, and don't quit, you can become a software engineer. Code Platoon has dedicated personnel to help you through the application, the course, and the job search afterwards. There are teaching assistants available most nights to help you with any work not completed during the normal school day which is hugely beneficial. The day to day instructors Tom and Noa are great! If you just show up and do the bare minimum, you will not receive the full benefits of the program. If you are willing to do what it takes, you will be employable. My class was fully remote due to Covid, and although I would have enjoyed being in person, being remote had no effect on the high quality of the course. The pictures I've seen of the building and classroom look really nice.

Code Platoon is committed to helping all students in the program succeed in transitioning into software development and related careers. Outside of learning different programming languages, I also had the opportunity to learn from industry experts through the mentorship program, career coaching, and interview skills workshops. The instructors, TA's, and alumni are always available during and after classes. 

Overall, the program exposed me to programming best practices that are in great demand in the industry such as Agile development practices. After graduation, I feel better prepared for my next career adventure.

The experience here at Code Platoon was amazing. The overall curriculum was great as it incorporated both technical and softs skill curriculum which helps students learn to be a better overall software engineer. Before Code Platoon I didn't have a good resume, a strong Linkedin, or any idea on good interview practices such as white boarding and answering behavioral questions. Now, after graduating I feel I have obtained all the necessary knowledge and confidence to continue to grow as a developer and enter the work force.

Code Platoon supplies so many resources and opportunities to the students such as, Mentors and TA's who are volunteer industry professionals, Instructors that always makes sure students are understanding the material, as well as an ability to obtain a AWS certification while attending. If you are a military veteran or spouse willing to put in the long hours of work for the next 4 months to become a software engineer this bootcamp is for you. 

Code platoon was a great experience. The curriculum is intense but rewarding. The amount of support given in incredible. Instructors, TA's, mentors, and other alumni all want you to succeed. The camaraderie established between the students in our cohort was a sight to behold.
Code platoon also prepares you for the job hunt with soft skills prep, white boarding, resume writing, mock interviews, etc. Overall, the hours are long, the course work can seem overwhelming at times, but that makes it that just more rewarding at the end. If you're a military veteran or a veteran spouse, i would suggest code platoon.

I don't think there is any other program like this. The director of education, Jonathan Young has done outstanding job structuring the curriculum. His experience working as Senior Software Engineer combined with his past experience of teaching Chicago Public Schools has certainly benefitted Code Platoon. The program's director, Rodrigo Levy is personally invested in student's success. His connections with corporate sponsors and industry professionals provide invaluable networking opportunities for Code Platoon graduates. If you are a veteran or a military spouse interested in Software Engineering Code Platoon is a wonderful place to start. 

The support here is great from onboarding to the coursework, in and out of the classroom, this program is built to set you up for success. Teachers, TA's, mentors, and alumni are all lined up to help you succeed if you put in the work. Code Platoon's weekly commitment to involve all students in a 'what could we do better' session is a testament to their quality commitment. Having just graduated now, I can’t think of another group I’ve been prouder to be a part of. It’s been such an intense challenge, it’s been a family, and no other program or school feels like it's better prepared me for where I’m going next.

I've been very wary of programs that specifically target veterans. When I was originally looking to join a bootcamp style program for IT I kept finding companies that were trying to make easy money off the GI Bill and not really giving a real education or opportunities. That's why when I heard about Code Platoon I thought it had to be too good to be true. I had heard about it through two Marines I served with, one of whom went through the program. When she told me she went  from knowing nothing about computers to getting a top paying internship in only a few months I decided to take the leap an apply. The application was difficult but once I got accepted I made my plans, sold everything I owned, and drove 2000 miles across the country to Chicago to start classes in January 2020. It's now April 2020 and I've graduated and built programs and worked on group projects. All with only a general IT knowledge before hand. We just finished up doing interviews for internships this week. Not only does Code Platoon teach you JavaScript, Python and the technology stack to build web applications but they provide you with career services in the way of mentorships, resume reviews, teaching you how to use LinkedIn, and constant interview prep. It is a full rounded experience meant to get you the skills you need and a job right after. I'm grateful to Rod and Code Platoon for this life changing experience and am excited for my new future and career. 

As a recent graduate of this program of about ( T- 8hr); I can honestly say this is the experience of a lifetime. The instructors give challenging curriculums, which help prepare you for a real-world scenarios. You receive individualized attention, as the instructors help build upon your prospective without interjecting theirs. All members of the program respect you as an individual with varying life experiences and see you as a human. If you want respect and validation, this is the place for you.

I have never seen an organization more committed to the success of Veterans and spouses than Code Platoon. The instruction is excellent and dynamic in keeping up with trends in the industry. I don't know of any other non-profit coding boot camp that serves Veterans and their spouses exclusively.

For anyone thinking that Code Platoon is a place that magically makes you a developer in a few months and hands you a job, you're mistaken. The students that make it at Code Platoon have a baseline passion for learning.  They have motivations to learn software development that aren't exclusively financial.  Successful students approach the learning material with genuine humility (despite what experience they may have had programming before). 

The course load is substantial, with most students working about 12 hours daily (sometimes on the weekends) to accomplish challenges and projects. The instructors are technical experts who want to see you succeed. The soft-skills curriculum and internship opportunities are surreal.  

The more you do to prepare for the course, the better off you will be.  Take the pre-work seriously, learn what is required before you show up, and ask the instructors questions.  If you fake it or copy-paste code on your application, you won't make it in the course.

Code Platoon is already opening doors for us, and I am grateful.  A scarce opportunity that you shouldn't pass up if you have a genuine interest in coding.