Code Platoon offers a unique bootcamp program that primarily focuses on helping veterans and military spouses become full stack software engineers. The programs are designed to teach essential coding skills in JavaScript and Python, as well as offering intensive career services and paid internships.
They offer varied bootcamp options. Their programs can be taken part time and the bootcamp also accepts the GI Bill. Read our Code Platoon review to find out everything you need to know about the Code Platoon bootcamp.
Code Platoon Quick Facts | |
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Cost | $0 – $15,500 |
Start Dates | January 31st 2022, May 23rd 2022, October 3rd 2022 |
Locations | Chicago, Online |
Courses | Full Stack Software Engineering |
Available Programs | Full-time, Part-time, Self-paced, Online live |
Code Platoon is a unique bootcamp aimed specifically at military veterans and military spouses. Created in 2016, this school trains veterans and military spouses to build full stack web applications.
Students learn industry best practices in software engineering. They gain expertise in the most widely-used programming skills and up-to-date software engineering skills. They are based in the Chicago area but also offer all of their programs online.
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The bootcamp places a heavy focus on preparing student for the workforce. It offers a range of career services to help you with your job search. After graduation, you can apply for their apprenticeship programs and immediately get a job in the tech industry.
Yes, Code Platoon is 100 percent worth it if you are a military veteran or spouse, and want to become a software engineer This school also offers first-rate training and support to help you transition into the tech sector.
Code Platoon offers a range of study options to make learning even more accessible. They also have excellent career services to help you with your job search.
At Code Platoon, 75 percent of graduates get a job within six months of completing the program, with an average salary of $65,000. 80 percent of graduates go on to gain jobs with average salaries of $93,000.
One of the reasons this school is so successful is the clear focus on preparing students for the workforce. Students learn essential industry skills along with career development techniques like how to create a professional job profile and thrive in job interviews.
No, Code Platoon does not currently offer a job guarantee. However, their job support services and hiring partners should mean it’s easy to find a job after graduation. As mentioned above, 75 percent of students found work within six months of completing the course.
Code Platoon tuition generally costs $15,500. However, as a military personnel, veteran, or spouse, you are often entitled to receive a discount of close to 80 percent through a scholarship scheme.
One of the biggest advantages of studying at Code Platoon is that they offer many different financing plans. In particular, scholarships and GI Bill payments are available for people with a military background or spouse.
Currently, Code Platoon has seven scholarships available. These scholarships aim to promote the inclusion of minority groups in the tech industry. The National Military Family Association (NMFA) Scholarship awards the recipient up to $13,000, which helps active members and spouses start a tech career at Code Platoon.
Active military members can serve and study simultaneously through the Skillbridge Scholarship. If you are a spouse of a military person, you may be eligible for their MilSpouse Coders scholarship.
Their veterans and spouse scholarship covers up to $13,000 of your total tuition, if accepted. They also offer scholarships for transgender veterans, women in technology, and BIPOC. These scholarships cover up to $16,000 of tuition costs.
Currently, Code Platoon does not offer an income share agreement (ISA) plan.
Currently, Code Platoon does not offer loans to pay tuition for its programs.
To study at Code Platoon, you must pay a deposit of $500 within 10 days of receiving the registration form. You must pay the rest of the tuition before the first day of classes unless you are part of a financing or scholarship plan. If you belong to the GI Bill or VET TEC program, the $500 is refundable after graduation.
Code Platoon is the first coding bootcamp in Illinois to accept the GI Bill. Code Platoon students may be eligible for the GI Bill program, created by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This plan is only available for face-to-face courses since the Illinois VA does not recognize remote programs.
The benefits of the GI Bill are not always the same, which is why Code Platoon encourages students to check with the VA the details of this financing option. Some benefits include paying for housing and books.
Code Platoon has one in-person campus in Chicago, Illinois. They teach many of their programs online via remote learning.
Code Platoon offers a wide range of courses, for complete beginners through to more advanced programs. Their programs focus on full stack software engineering.
If this is your first time studying tech, then you should consider an introductory prep course. Code Platoon has two prep programs for beginner students. These courses will get you up to speed so you can progress to their main programs.
The 14-week program is available either in person at the Chicago campus or via the Code Platoon live e-learning platform. If you choose the face-to-face course, you will work directly with professionals from the tech industry, creating real-world projects.
The program will develop your skills in Ruby, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and React. You will learn about databases with ORM and PostgreSQL. You will also receive career coaching to help you get your first job.
This is an ideal course for active military working during the week. With this bootcamp option, you can access the 28-week program with a reduced class size and the exact same benefits as the other courses.
You will learn Python, SQL, and JavaScript. Members of this course can apply for any of the school’s scholarships. The course also includes professional preparation from Beyond Tech, one of Code Platoon’s corporate sponsors.
A self-paced course allows you to organize your academic schedule according to your daily activities. In this program, you will learn through pre-recorded lectures and coding challenges. This course is free, but students who participate will not receive a certificate of completion or receive faculty feedback.
Code Platoon offers different schedules to cater to the different needs and goals of each student.
Code Platoon’s full-time program is available either online or in person. You will work intensively in order to obtain a software engineer certificate and be job ready in just 14 weeks.
The part-time program is a less intensive option. It’s offered online only and takes 28 weeks to complete. Students attend classes three nights per week and all day on Saturday.
The self-paced schedule allows you to study with pre-recorded classes. This mode is free and dedicated to the military and spouses who work during the week. With this option, you can explore freely according to your availability.
There is a multi-step admission process to get into Code Platoon. After filling out an application, you’ll be expected to take part in coding challenges, submit an essay, and attend an interview.
Code Platoon does not publish official acceptance rate figures.
Below is a step-by-step guide to applying for a Code Platoon program.
This school has strict application criteria. Therefore, you must show confidence, discipline, enthusiasm, and professionalism during the interview. Below are questions that may arise during an interview for Code Platoon.
Yes, Code Platoon is an excellent opportunity if you are military personnel or spouse who wants to learn software engineering. Alongside various financial support options, they focus on providing you practical skills and career coaching to help you transition into a career in tech. So if you’re looking for a career change, Code Platoon is a top choice.
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Anonymous
Very well run non-profit program for vets. The technical curriculum is fast paced and well structured. The opportunities for follow-on internships and career mentorship are outstanding.
November 4, 2020
Anonymous
If you’re a veteran looking to get into Tech, this is the best place to go. Hands-down – from exceptional Instructors, to guided help throughout the program; TA’s, that are actual developers! Mentors who are seasoned veterans of the Tech industry. You have the tools to be successful and the help to make it to the end. I learned a whole lot going through the program and refined a lot of my skillset as well. You learn industry best practices, pair programming, they even take you to your first meetup. It’s all great, the curriculum is challenging and rewarding, the support is heavy and there at all times. It’s also in a prime spot in Chicago, just an overall great experience.
November 7, 2020
Anonymous
I am a Marine Veteran. I’ve spent 5 years in Supply and Logistics and as I began my transition out of the marines I was trying to figure out a way to move into a career in software engineering. Code Platoon was my solution. In the 14 weeks of study, I acquired a greater depth of knowledge in Software Development than I could have attained in over a year of studying on my own. Now just over 2 and a half years later after graduating, I am a Senior Software Engineer for Raise Marketplace and I absolutely love what I do. I highly recommend Code Platoon, if it were not for the core knowledge I gained there and doors that were opened up to me I would would not be in the place I am today.
This course was tough and very demanding of my time, however, I have no regrets. The quality of instruction and depth of understanding gained in each area covered is unparalleled. I hope this review has been helpful to you in your decision-making process. Please reach out to me on LinkedIn if you have any questions. linkedin.com/in/conlin-mcmanus-78a39128
November 14, 2020
Anonymous
I am so grateful that I as a military spouse was able to attend code platoon. My husband who is a veteran attended code platoon last year, and he had an amazing experience. He completed the 14-week program and was able to get an apprentice position through this bootcamp. Now he is working full time as a software engineer. After his experience, I too decided to attend code platoon because I was looking for a career change, and they accept military spouses! I had a great experience throughout this course. At the end of the course, I was able to build fully functional full-stack web application. I definitely recommend this bootcamp for veterans and spouses who are looking to get into web development and software engineering.
November 15, 2020
Anonymous
CodePlatoon covers everything to help you build your first web application. You learn a lot of tools, JavaScript. Python, React, Django, SQL and are given a lot of guidance and support. They also put the extra effort to form your resume, give you career coaching, help you make new connections in the community, and make sure you are set up for a new career. It is intense, but in that amazing way where you never run out of things to work on, so you are growing at an exponential rate. The instructors are so involved and really care about what they are doing for their students. The director and human resources person are the same, this program exists because of their real passion for helping veterans start new careers. I love everything they have done for me. I learned more than I imagined was possible in 3 months and feel like I am at the beginning of an awesome new journey in technology with unbelievable resources in the community because of this bootcamp.
November 15, 2020
Anonymous
Code Platoon was a very rewarding and very challenging experience for me. Before this program, I didn’t really have a grasp or understanding on any coding. After, I feel confident enough to start building apps and comfortable using Javascript and Python. The class cohesion was a critical aspect I feel that sets this bootcamp apart from others. Everyone in the class was there to learn and help each other grow. The instructors were always there to provide assistance and answer questions. We had mentors and TA’s volunteer their time to contribute to our overall learning in class. I highly recommend this course to any vet looking to start a career in software development!
November 17, 2020
Anonymous
When I decided to pursue my education in web development, research led me to Code Platoon, the only full time bootcamp for veterans accepting the GI Bill. I have to admit that I was somewhat nervous about attending a program that had only been in existence for two years. I ultimately decided to take the risk because I could not have attended boot camp without the financial assistance provided by the GI Bill. It ended up being the best educational experience I’ve had.
From day one, it became clear that the instructors Jon and Josh actually cared greatly about the success of the individual students while also fostering an in depth understanding of the unique issues faced by the veteran population in particular. As a person new to software engineering and technology in general, I never felt judged or uncomfortable asking for assistance from either of them. This level of care and attention continued throughout the entire duration of the course.
Additionally, both the curriculum and instruction never assumed prior knowledge of even the most basic concepts behind web development. This made the program truly suitable for the beginner. It maintained a pace that successfully brought me up to a level beyond what I thought I could reach during a 14 week course, while at the same time consistently providing material challenging to even the most experienced in the group.
I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend one of the few educational/vocational/career programs for veterans that actually fulfills its promise of helping veterans transition from the military into a career worth feeling proud of.
December 6, 2020
Anonymous
What a great program! I came in with very little understanding of what software engineering and development was and fully entailed, and over the course of the program, I’m now equipped with the knowledge of not only what software engineering/development is, but also how to build and create projects in a variety of languages and frameworks. This program pushed my mental capacity to learn new things into a level I didn’t know I was capable of.
The instructors were awesome, the coaches were great, the mentors, TA’s and supporting staff made this process a complete package. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the course, and look forward to beginning the next step in my journey!
December 15, 2020
Anonymous
I decided to go to Code Platoon after graduating with a Biomedical Engineering degree. The director, Rod Levy, was welcoming from the beginning. He was understanding and adaptable to my needs as a wheelchair-user, specifically taking in account my travel difficulties and health concerns. Sometimes I would need to take the class as a remote student. Additionally, both instructors, Jon and Josh, explained concepts clearly, encouraged questions, and would support frustrated students during individual coding exercises when the students were stuck. Every Monday through Thursday, a couple of helpful TAs would assist us with coding after hours. The general atmosphere was great because all the of the gladly students jump in to help each other. Just like the military, we don’t leave our battle-buddies behind.
Even with all the support, the course is very challenging. Students are expected to do research, experiment with code, and figure out how to solve our problems. This is an absolute necessity in the world of programming. Google is our best friend. And there are many tricky concepts where Stack Overflow has suggestions to help us. The school has plenty of outsiders come in and give us workshops on key concepts such as Git, Data Science, SQL, React, and job searches. Code Platoon also gives lots of help to finding a job by developing Linked-In profiles, resumes, white-boarding challenges, and giving interview practice. Most of the students here will get a paid internship. And for the several who do miss out, Code Platoon has lots of connections to other software companies in the Chicago area, many who seem to be scouting for talent. I have full confidence that I will get an internship or a job very soon. I feel like I’ve learned more in a few months here than in a few years attending college.
Anyway, I love the program and recommend it to anybody who is will to put forth 100% effort. I suggest that newcomers not only do the pre-work, but also take online courses (YouTube, Udemy, etc.) on Git, Django, and REACT. REACT was especially difficult with the asynchronous programming, and I think it will benefit students to try to understand it in advance. Good luck everyone, and I hope to stop in and see my fellow Code Platoon cohorts in the future!
December 17, 2020
Anonymous
I went in with some prior knowledge of coding before Code Platoon, however One of the great things about this school is that even if that’s the case you still end up learning a ton. The instructors do a great job of talking about best practices, as well as giving you plenty of opportunity to practice what you’re learning, culminating in two week-long projects in the end that give you a great sense of accomplishment! Onto the Pros and Cons:
Pros:
– The class size is reasonable. It doesn’t feel like the instructors are stretched thin trying to answer questions.
– Your questions pretty much always get answered, and if they don’t know they will usually find out.
– LOTS of awesome experiences visiting other companies, as well as various meetups.
– They do take the G.I Bill, and now allow you to use it for spouses.
– Being around other prior military, at least for me, was really inviting.
– Rod and both the instructors are incredibly receptive of feedback! They hold weekly retros on course improvement.
– Job / Internship support is amazing!
Cons:
– At times towards the end of the course, there are a lot of meetups and trips to places, it was sometimes difficult managing all of that and still have time for the workload
– I wish the course could have been 1 to 2 weeks longer to spread things out a bit more, and have more time to spend learning the challenging topics toward the end.
Summary:
I had a great time with my class, I think that Code Platoon offers a unique service to veterans in that everyone has a similar background with the military, and that’s something that you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. The work is challenging, the class is engaging, and there are a myriad of resources at your disposal; it’s just up to you to take advantage of them, and if you’re prepared to work hard you’ll do well!
December 17, 2020