Breaking into tech after the military can feel like jumping into a foreign language.
New acronyms. New culture. New rules.
But the truth is, veterans have an edge—and most of us don’t realize it.
Here are 5 lessons I carried straight from the Army into my IT career that made all the difference.
1. Mission First, Ego Last
Tech is full of smart people—but not all of them know how to work as a team. In the military, the mission always came first. In tech, that means staying focused on the goal, not proving you’re the smartest dev in the room.
2. Routine Wins Over Hype
You don’t need 10 new productivity tools. You need consistency. Veterans already know how to show up daily, put in the reps, and stick to the plan. That wins long-term.
3. Adapt and Overcome
Remember field problems? Yeah, tech is like that—just with fewer MREs. Systems break. Clients pivot. Tools update. Your ability to adapt under pressure is a superpower.
4. No One Fights Alone
You don’t leave your battle buddy behind. In tech, that means helping the junior dev, pair programming when needed, and building team trust.
5. Always Keep Learning
Whether it’s learning a new MOS or a new language like Python, growth is in your blood. Bring that same learning mindset into tech, and there’s no limit to where you can go.
If you're a veteran stepping into IT, remember: you're not starting from zero. You're just aiming your firepower in a new direction.
Follow along at jameshenderson.online, where military grit meets tech growth—every single day.