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<\/p>\nAUSTIN, Texas \u2014 The Army Software Factory, es el esfuerzo lanzado recientemente por el US ARMY\u00a0para capacitar a un cuadro selecto de soldados y civiles del Ej\u00e9rcito en el desarrollo de software,\u00a0el lema del programa:\u00a0\u201cPor soldados.\u00a0Para los soldados”.\u00a0Los participantes aprenden\u00a0con socios experimentados de la industria tecnol\u00f3gica,\u00a0mientras trabajan en peque\u00f1os equipos para abordar proyectos de la vida real para clientes del Ej\u00e9rcito.<\/p>\n
AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 The Army Software Factory, the Army\u2019s newly launched effort to train a select cadre of Soldiers and Army Civilians in modern software development, is frequently recognized for its innovation, tech collaboration and future-oriented approach but is equally defined by the enthusiasm of its rising coders.<\/p>\n
Participants in the Austin-based program, who are selected through a competitive application process, arrive from all over the country to learn the essentials of coding, app development, platform management and user design \u2013 all in a concerted effort to build a stronger, more agile Army.<\/p>\n
Many of the current participants were drawn to apply to the Software Factory in part because of its unique model, which offers the ability to transform an individual with no previous experience in software development to an advanced software developer within the span of three years.<\/p>\n
The program \u2014 which welcomed an initial, 25-person cohort in January and a second, 30-person cohort in July \u2014 begins with immersive classroom learning but quickly transitions to peer mentor-paired training. During this second, hands-on phase, participants learn the ins and outs of software development from experienced tech industry partners while working in small teams to tackle real-life projects for Army clients.<\/p>\n
While the initial cohorts have yet to reach later stages of the program, the plan is for students to gradually attain a level of knowledge that allows them to assist in training new Software Factory members, creating a learning and growth framework that embraces the program\u2019s motto of \u201cBy Soldiers. For Soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the Software Factory already preparing to welcome its third cohort in early 2022, we sat down with some of its second cohort members earlier this month to learn more about their motivations for joining the groundbreaking program, as well as to hear about their experiences thus far.<\/p>\n
Below are some of the insights they shared, which highlight not only how the Software Factory is molding Army leaders, but how current software development efforts are helping to shape future tech readiness at the tactical edge.<\/p>\n
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Cpt. Keyshawn Lee, 26, joined the Software Factory because he \u201cwanted to be a part of something trailblazing, something that can really drive change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He was working as a human resources officer at Fort Carson, Colorado, when he found out about the chance to join the program\u2019s second cohort.<\/p>\n
Lee, who grew up in a military family, was motivated to apply because he saw how advancing software resources could improve Army systems as a whole, with potentially life-saving implications.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe faster we can iterate, the faster we can pivot, the faster we can deploy software, that\u2019s equated to seconds on the battlefield, time on the battlefield and lives on the battlefield, which is most important,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
In terms of the immersive classroom learning phase of the program, \u201cit was everything I expected,\u201d Lee said. \u201cIt was fun, I learned a lot, and it was very applicable being able to learn it and then implement it right then and there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee particularly appreciates the teamwork emphasis of the program and the support of his colleagues at the Software Factory; \u201cthey motivate me to do better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He looks forward to applying skills he has learned thus far in the program with his own background knowledge \u2014 including project management insights gained through his master of business administration degree \u2014 when delving into projects for Army clients.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really want to continue to step outside my comfort zone and just really learn to make great products to help our Soldiers,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
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Cpt. Ammar Masoud, 47, is not new to the world of coding, having previously worked for a software development company in the private sector, but he is nevertheless thrilled to be learning new software skills as a member of the Software Factory.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, I\u2019m living the best of both worlds,\u201d Masoud said. \u201cI love coding, I love technology, and I love IT, but I love serving at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still a military officer, but I\u2019m an Army coder,\u201d Masoud reflected. \u201cThat\u2019s unheard of before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Masoud has been in the Army for 16 years, serving in both Reserve and active-duty roles. His previous experiences as a Soldier include working as a cryptologic voice interceptor, a signal officer, a civil\u2013military\u00a0relations and a civil affairs officer, as well as completing deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the first civil affairs officer to have been selected from the Army Special Operations Forces community to join the Software Factory.<\/p>\n
Now that he has finished the classroom portion of the program, Masoud looks forward to \u201cworking on very complex projects that will bring value to Soldiers, to the Army, to DoD and our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be part of creating software tools that will save lives, will add value, will save time for Soldiers and just make their work better over time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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As a former Soldier and current Department of the Army civilian, Lawrence Eckles, 56, is familiar with the opportunities and constraints presented by legacy Army IT systems.<\/p>\n
During his early deployments, \u201cthe intelligence we got was usually about four days old,\u201d he said. Thankfully, \u201cthe digital systems the Army uses now are much more responsive,\u201d providing information within minutes instead of days.<\/p>\n
Eckles, who is from Cleveland, Ohio, and joined the Army at 17, left active duty in 2002 due to medical reasons but still felt the urge to serve. \u201cI wasn\u2019t finished yet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He went on to serve as a contractor for the Army, eventually joining the DA in 2017 as an IT specialist.<\/p>\n
He is now one of the first five DA civilians to have joined the Army Software Factory.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they\u2019re trying to do here \u2014 getting applications in the hands of Soldiers within a matter of months \u2014 is amazing, and it\u2019s never been done before,\u201d Eckles said.<\/p>\n
He added that he has \u201cfelt very welcomed\u201d to the team, which has helped \u201cset the standard for what we are going to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just really, really grateful to have this opportunity and grateful to everyone who has laid the groundwork for this,\u201d Eckles said.<\/p>\n
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Andrew Graham, 26, is a DA civilian who worked as a computer engineer for the Army for four-and-a-half years before joining the Software Factory.<\/p>\n
He was based out of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, when he saw the announcement for the program and jumped at the opportunity to learn additional software skills while experiencing life in Austin.<\/p>\n
Graham, who grew up in the suburbs of Oklahoma City and received an electrical engineering degree from Rice University, has enjoyed the mix of learning and contributing to learning that he has been able to partake in at the Software Factory.<\/p>\n
As a former League of Legends amateur tournament organizer, a job that involved \u201ca lot of people asking the same question over and over again,\u201d he also understands the importance of clear guidance. He has been able to apply that understanding to his role at the Software Factory, where having helpful software development instructions is essential for learning, conveying and preserving information.<\/p>\n
During his time at the Software Factory, Graham has observed the benefits of having both Soldiers and DA Civilians present. \u201cYou need to make sure you\u2019re not making echo chambers or silos and are bringing in other perspectives,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Graham looks forward to the hands-on aspects of Phase 2 and hopes to play an integral role in further Army initiatives, including by continually exploring the question of \u201cWhat\u2019s the best thing we can do for bettering the whole Army?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Staff Sgt. Aaron Lawson, 34, joined the Software Factory after working as a unit logistics specialist for the Army.<\/p>\n
A native of San Antonio, Lawson lived in Texas and Georgia with his grandfather, a command sergeant major, before joining the Army at 17.<\/p>\n
He served on active duty for a number of years before transitioning to a Reserve role and working as a software developer and integrator for a private company. However, he soon found that he \u201creally missed being with Soldiers and wearing the uniform every day,\u201d so decided to rejoin the Army as an active-duty Soldier.<\/p>\n
Lawson sees the Software Factory as offering a compelling blend of his interests as a Soldier and as a software developer. He also has firsthand experience with some of the Army\u2019s existing software systems and is eager to learn the tools to help improve them.<\/p>\n
Thus far, he has been very pleased with the journey toward that aim.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m incredibly impressed and extremely proud to work with everyone here at the Software Factory,\u201d Lawson said.<\/p>\n
He has found the Software Factory\u2019s culture to be \u201cvery inviting,\u201d and describes its efforts as highly impactful and rewarding.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love being a Soldier and doing things for Soldiers,\u201d Lawson said.<\/p>\n
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DA Civilian Stephen Scott, 25, had never lived outside of New Jersey before moving to Austin earlier this year to join the Software Factory.<\/p>\n
He learned about the chance to get more involved in furthering Army software development while working as a weapons systems software engineer at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always interested in technology in general,\u201d Scott said, sharing that he was a member of his high school\u2019s robotics team before studying computer science in college.<\/p>\n
He was inspired to apply to the Software Factory after reading a description of the program in an email and remembers thinking \u201cthat would be a cool experience; that\u2019d be a good way to learn, a good way to build my skillset and have an immediate impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very different type of programming,\u201d Scott said of the app-focused programming he is learning. He added that \u201ceveryone has completely different backgrounds and different skillsets coming in, which I think is a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have learned a lot, and I definitely feel like my overall knowledge of skills has drastically improved over the past few months,\u201d Scott shared.<\/p>\n
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Josh Farrington, 29, is a DA Civilian who comes to the Army Software Factory from Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, where he worked as a software developer for the Aviation Mission Planning System.<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Farrington was familiar with the defense community growing up. He joined the DA after graduating from college with a degree in industrial and systems engineering.<\/p>\n
Farrington views the Software Factory as providing a valuable opportunity to expand his software programming experience while also working more closely alongside Soldiers and experiencing life in Austin.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to write code that\u2019s actually going to get used to start solving problems,\u201d Farrington said.<\/p>\n
He added that he was \u201creally drawn by the ability to work directly with Soldiers,\u201d explaining that the Soldiers he works with frequently provide helpful insights into the ways in which certain technologies would be useful in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has made it more real, the impact I\u2019m having as a DA civilian,\u201d Farrington said.<\/p>\n
The Army Software Factory acknowledged the achievements of Lee, Masoud, Eckles, Graham, Lawson, Scott, Farrington and the remaining members of Cohort 2 during a Dec. 17 recognition ceremony in Austin, which marked the transition from the cohort\u2019s classroom learning phase to a hands-on training stage.<\/p>\n