What is Vets Who Code: Teaching veterans and leveraging AI

Key Concepts

• Vets Who Code: A non-profit organization founded by Jerome Hardway that teaches veterans how to code and become software engineers.
• Crawl Walk Run: A progressive learning pattern used by Jerome Hardway to teach coding, where learners practice a concept and then build upon it with new concepts to reinforce learning.
• MER Stack: A JavaScript stack consisting of MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js.
• AI Integration in Education: Embedding AI into each layer of the learning process, rather than treating it as a separate entity.
• Ask, Don't Edit or Agent: A rule implemented by Jerome Hardway where students are encouraged to ask AI for help but not to let it edit or act as an agent for them.
• Data-Driven Curriculum: Using data and trends in the hiring market to inform the content and structure of the curriculum.
• Model Switching: Using different AI models for different tasks, such as using Claude for code review and Gemini for code writing, to optimize cost and performance.
• Gemini and PyCharm: Combining Google Gemini with JetBrains PyCharm IDE for a powerful coding experience.

1. Origin Story and Vets Who Code

• Jerome Hardway, the founder and executive director of Vets Who Code, was in the Air Force as security forces (3POX1) and had no prior interest or experience in computers.
• He initially planned to pursue music with a scholarship to Pacific University.
• After leaving the military in 2010 during the Great Recession, he struggled to find job opportunities.
• Inspired by a code.org commercial featuring Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, he taught himself SQL using a book from Barnes & Noble.
• He was hired by the Department of Homeland Security as a data analyst based on his SQL skills.
• Vets Who Code was founded in 2014 after Jerome created a website to raise money for a veteran's family who was denied assistance by the VA.
• The organization aims to provide veterans with a new focus and purpose through coding, similar to how boxing helped Jerome.
• In 2015, Vets Who Code was invited to the White House Demo Day, which significantly raised the organization's profile.

2. Teaching Methodology: Crawl Walk Run

• Jerome uses a "crawl walk run" approach to teaching, emphasizing progressive learning.
• Learners practice a concept, then practice a new concept that builds upon the previous one, reinforcing the old while moving forward.
• He emphasizes the importance of writing and note-taking for effective learning.
• This methodology is applied not only to individual learning but also to the overall curriculum design.

3. Curriculum Evolution and Technology Adoption

• Vets Who Code initially focused on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, Postgress, MySQL, and PHP.
• The organization later shifted to JavaScript and Ruby, but dropped Ruby due to negative feedback from computer science grads and hiring managers.
• Vets Who Code was one of the first organizations to go full MER stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js).
• The curriculum is continuously updated based on trends in the hiring market and feedback from employers.

4. Success Metrics and Impact

• Vets Who Code defines success solely as getting a job in software engineering.
• The organization has achieved a success rate of 93-97% each year.
• Jerome emphasizes the importance of helping students reach their desired goals and providing them with the skills and support they need to succeed.
• The organization's low operating costs are attributed to technology partners like Google and GitHub.

5. AI Integration Strategy

• AI is integrated into each layer of the learning process, rather than being treated as a separate entity.
• Students are taught to use AI tools like Gemini CLI and Claude Squad to build new workflows and mind maps.
• A key rule is to "ask" AI for help but not to "edit" or act as an "agent" during the learning process.
• This approach aims to ensure that students learn the fundamentals and develop critical thinking skills, rather than simply relying on AI to generate code.
• AI is used to create customized lesson plans in real-time, based on students' performance and progress.

6. AI-Powered Personalized Learning

• Vets Who Code leverages Gemini and its own data to score students' performance and identify areas where they need help.
• The system can recommend specific learning paths or resources based on individual needs.
• This allows for more personalized and efficient learning experiences.

7. Data-Driven Curriculum Development

• The curriculum is informed by data and trends in the hiring market.
• Jerome uses a data pipeline to ingest data, extract insights, transform it, and load it for analysis.
• Gemini is used to analyze the data and identify key trends and skills that are in demand.
• This ensures that the curriculum remains relevant and prepares students for the current job market.

8. Quickfire Questions and Insights

• Last thing automated: Connecting all family schedules into one system.
• Last thing asked Gemini: Help with an outline for a talk.
• Something new in the past year: Leveraging MCPs (Model-as-Code Pipelines) and spending less money on tools by building custom solutions.
• AI Model Switching: Using Claude for code review and Gemini for code writing to optimize cost and performance.
• Hidden Gem: Combining Google Gemini with JetBrains PyCharm IDE for a powerful coding experience.
• Next problem to solve: How to bring to the masses about the changes in the workforce and how to solve them.

9. Notable Quotes

• "I'm training you for the entire like job like hunt cycle right… the hardest part of software engineering roles is your first getting your first software engineering job."
• "You have to focus on the signal and not the noise."
• "I'm a big model switcher and I like the model that uh like Claude only reviews code. Uh, Gemini is the one that's writing the code, but Claude is the code reviewer and that keeps the that keeps the cost down."

10. Conclusion

Jerome Hardway's Vets Who Code is a remarkable organization that empowers veterans to transition into the tech industry through coding education. His innovative teaching methodologies, data-driven curriculum development, and strategic integration of AI tools have enabled the organization to achieve impressive success rates. By focusing on fundamental skills, critical thinking, and personalized learning, Vets Who Code prepares veterans not only to code but also to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the software engineering job market. The organization's commitment to staying ahead of the curve and adapting to new technologies ensures that its graduates are well-equipped to thrive in their careers.