FOR SOLDIERS BY SOLDIERS


KEEPING PACE WITH TECHNOLOGY Providing additional pathways for learning and professional development to Soldiers and DA civilians can improve reten- tion as well as recruitment, particularly when the education and training being offered is intensive, hands-on and as immersive as a private-sector alternative.


Te Army Software Factory opened its doors in January 2021 and has since welcomed four cohorts and more than 100 members. A new cohort consisting of approximately 20 Soldiers and five DA civilians arrives every six months; cohort members, who are selected from a competitive pool of applicants, come from a vari- ety of locations and military occupational specialties, bringing with them diverse backgrounds and insights.


Each person who arrives at the Army Software Factory is expected to invest considerable energy and effort into the three-year program, which commences with a tech accelerator phase—combining classroom learning on the basics of coding and software development with tech expert mentorship—and advances through industry partner pairing, skills specialization and advanced knowledge application. Troughout the process, the program embraces tech industry best practices, such as imaginative brainstorming and openness to trying new ideas, to accelerate innovative solutions while also encouraging retention of top technical talent.


While the program is still new, the plan is to continue harness- ing the talents that Army Software Factory members develop long after they graduate the program, either through placement in tech-specific Army roles or by embedding tech-savvy person- nel in Army organizations or units that could benefit from the expertise.


If “data is the ammunition of the future,” as defense officials have underscored, then the Army Software Factory provides a promising avenue for developing the technical experts needed to handle and deploy data on the ground, at the speed of relevance and against near-peer competitors who are also investing heav- ily in state-of-the-art warfighting technologies.


LEVERAGING SOLDIER INSIGHTS Te motto of the Army Software Factory is “By Soldiers. For Soldiers.” Brief and to the point, the phrase emphasizes one of the program’s greatest strengths: its ability to advance Soldier- centered design of digital tools and applications through the active participation of Soldier problem-solvers.


Many Soldiers arrive at the Army Software Factory having already completed multiple years of service. Tey include combat veter- ans, special forces members and West Point graduates. Some are brand new to the field of software development, whereas others have IT backgrounds. Regardless of their length of service or


TEXAS FACILITY TOUR


Young J. Bang, principal deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, met with leaders and took a tour of the various facilities of Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas, in April. (Photos by Austin Thomas, Army Futures Command)


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Army AL&T Magazine


Fall 2022


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