AI isn’t magic.
It’s infra.
Most people are focused on prompts.
Engineers should be focused on systems.
Inputs → processing → outputs.
We broke down an AI audio pipeline from an engineering perspective.
We’re launching Field Notes, a new newsletter from Jerome Hardaway.
It will publish between SITREP editions and focus on the realities of building durable engineers in tech.
Join the list before the first issue lands:
Most developer portfolios fail for one simple reason:
They show projects, but they don’t explain impact.
If a hiring manager can’t quickly see:
• what you build
• who it helps
• why it matters
they move on.
We put together a portfolio checklist to help fix that.
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy Reserve. ⚓
Citizen-sailors balancing civilian careers and military readiness—then stepping forward when the mission demands it.
Always ready isn’t marketing.
It’s muscle memory.
Fair winds. 🇺🇸
They were told they couldn’t.
The Tuskegee Airmen became one of the most respected fighter groups of WWII.
The crew of the USS Mason proved their skill in a segregated Navy.
When tested, they delivered.
History question:
What Black military story do you think more Americans should know?
Drop it below. 👇
Harlem Hellfighters: buff.ly/42S3lZa
Red Ball Express: buff.ly/3vXZtYf
761st Tank Battalion:
buff.ly/n3cajS9
The 761st Tank Battalion served 183 consecutive days in combat.
Their motto: “Come out fighting.”
Different roles. Same excellence.
After D-Day, the Red Ball Express kept fuel and ammunition moving across Europe.
Logistics win wars.
The Harlem Hellfighters spent more time in combat than any U.S. unit in WWI — and earned France’s highest honors.
When America went to war overseas, Black service members were already ready.
🧵
The 54th Massachusetts led the assault on Fort Wagner in 1863.
They knew the odds.
They volunteered anyway.
Their courage helped change public perception of Black soldiers in combat.
Learn more about the 1st Rhode Island Regiment here:
buff.ly/K7slJ2f
In 1778, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment enlisted Black soldiers to fight for independence.
They were defending liberty in a country that hadn’t fully decided liberty included them.
That’s not a side story.
That’s foundational history.
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. ⚓
Citizen-sailors who balance careers, families, and readiness—then step up when the mission calls.
Always ready isn’t a slogan. It’s a standard.
Semper Paratus. 🇺🇸
This breaks down how onboarding quietly excludes veterans—and what better design looks like.
buff.ly/iA9GL8O
Traditional onboarding assumes everyone already knows how the room works.
Veterans often don’t—and that’s not a failure. It’s a design flaw.
Black service isn’t a footnote in American history.
It’s part of the foundation.
For the next two weeks, we’re honoring Black Americans who served — across centuries, across branches.
Some stories you know.
Some you probably don’t.
Follow along.
When veterans struggle during onboarding, it’s rarely a “soft skills” problem.
It’s unclear systems, unspoken rules, and assumptions masquerading as culture.
We wrote about that here:
buff.ly/iA9GL8O
What’s one thing your first civilian job never explained—but expected you to know on day one?
This is why traditional onboarding fails a lot of veterans.
👇
buff.ly/iA9GL8O
If you’re unsure whether it’s a fit, we wrote that down too. No hype, just clarity.
Read before you apply:
buff.ly/B5YZXYq
Applications close Feb 14.
This program isn’t for everyone — and that’s a good thing.
It’s built for veterans and military spouses who want structure, accountability, and real engineering experience.
Most onboarding processes weren’t designed with veterans in mind.
They assume cultural fluency instead of explaining expectations.
That gap costs people—and companies—more than they realize.
If you’re considering applying, this post explains the commitment clearly:
buff.ly/B5YZXYq
The 2026 Vets Who Code cohort runs 17 weeks and asks for ~20–24 hrs/week. That’s intentional.
We want people who are ready to treat this like an engineering role — not a side hobby.
Worth saying out loud: learning software engineering is hard. Any program that says otherwise isn’t being honest.
If you’re a veteran or military spouse thinking about applying, read this first. It lays out expectations clearly:
buff.ly/B5YZXYq
So the program now includes required pre-work, smaller cohorts, and real production-style work — not just tutorials.
AI isn’t a “nice to have” anymore. It’s reshaping what entry-level and mid-level engineering roles expect.
