Why The US Army Is Teaching Its Soldiers To Code | Matthew Flautt & Jeff Day From The Army Software Factory Ep. 37
Mar 30, 2025
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Matthew Flautt, CTO of the Army Software Factory, draws on 20 years of military experience, while Jeff Day, Chief of Platform, enriches the conversation with his cybersecurity background. They discuss how the Army is transforming non-technical soldiers into skilled developers through innovative training methods. The pair delve into the integration of DevOps principles, rapid software development strategies, and innovative applications like 'Blast Radius.' Their insights highlight a collaborative approach to overcoming challenges and enhancing military operations through technology.
The Army Software Factory trains soldiers with varying coding experience to become proficient developers through rigorous boot camp-style training and pair programming.
Emphasizing DevOps principles, the factory implements continuous integration and delivery pipelines to enable daily software deployments while ensuring security compliance.
Developing applications like Blast Radius showcases the factory's focus on enhancing operational efficiency by converting bureaucratic processes into streamlined digital solutions.
Deep dives
Mission of the Army Software Factory
The Army Software Factory aims to prototype and develop the software capabilities necessary for the future design of the Army. It addresses a gap in the Army’s software development talent, as traditional IT and cybersecurity roles did not encompass development expertise. To fill this void, the factory trains soldiers to become proficient developers while creating software that solves existing Army problems. This initiative establishes a framework for a sustainable software development career field within the Army.
Influence of DevOps and Continuous Delivery
The development processes at the Army Software Factory are heavily influenced by DevOps principles and continuous delivery strategies. They have implemented pipelines for continuous integration and delivery, allowing for daily deployments of software updates. This approach ensures that application teams can make reliable code commits that automatically transition to production through a well-defined, trusted process. The goal is to maintain development agility while adhering to necessary security measures and compliance standards.
Training and Growth of Developers
Soldiers entering the Army Software Factory may come with varying levels of coding experience, as there is no strict prerequisite for prior programming knowledge. The factory employs a combination of boot camp-style training and paired programming to rapidly bring new developers up to speed. This hands-on mentorship with experienced developers allows incoming soldiers to learn practical skills while working on real projects. As cohorts rotate every six months, this methodology fosters a continuous learning environment where junior developers can advance to more senior roles.
Real-World Applications Being Developed
The Army Software Factory is engaged in creating a variety of applications designed to enhance operational efficiency within the Army. For example, the application known as Blast Radius automates the planning of ammunition handling sites, transitioning the process from error-prone manual entries in spreadsheets to a streamlined web app. Other applications focus on tactical needs, such as facilitating communication in the field or managing airborne soldiers' jump statuses to ensure safety and regulation compliance. These practical solutions aim to alleviate bureaucratic inefficiencies and provide soldiers with effective tools in their roles.
Navigating Bureaucratic Challenges
Despite the success of their software development initiatives, the Army Software Factory faces challenges associated with the broader bureaucratic environment of the Army. Recruiting and maintaining a steady influx of qualified personnel can be difficult, particularly as the program has been reduced from three years to two, which may impact the quality of training. Additionally, navigating the layers of acquisition and cybersecurity policy requires coordination and can impact the speed of software development efforts. Maintaining flexibility while adhering to necessary standards is critical for the factory's continued success.
In this conversation, Dave Farley explores the innovative Army Software Factory with Matt Flautt (CTO) and Jeff Day (Chief of Platform). They reveal how the U.S. Army is building an internal software development capability by training soldiers—many without prior coding experience—to become proficient developers through rigorous training and pair programming practices.
This episode will be of interest to anyone with knowledge in building technical capability within large organisations, transforming non-technical talent into developers, or implementing DevOps practices in regulated environments. Their pragmatic approach to continuous improvement shows how even organisations with strict governance can adopt modern software practices.
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