It’s easy to talk about "problem-solving" in a job interview.
But when you’ve had to fix a jammed artillery piece while rounds were flying overhead, that phrase hits different.
The military taught me that real problem-solving isn’t just about logic—it’s about composure, speed, and resourcefulness under pressure.
And that skillset? It’s golden in the world of tech.
What Problem-Solving Looked Like in the Field
In the Army, things break. Plans go sideways.
Sand jams the breach. Batteries die in freezing weather. Comms go down. You name it.
And no one’s handing you a manual in those moments. You have to:
- Stay calm
- Assess the situation
- Identify your resources
- Make the best move now
We call it thinking under fire—and that’s exactly what tech demands too.
From Chaos to Code
In cybersecurity, one bad update can take down an entire system.
In machine learning, one outlier can throw off your entire model.
In software, one misplaced character can crash your app.
But I don’t panic when things break.
Because I’ve already been trained to think clearly when it matters most.
That’s the edge veterans bring: we don’t flinch when the pressure hits. We focus.
What Military Thinking Looks Like in Tech
- Rapid triage during outages = combat casualty care
- Root cause analysis = after-action reports
- Debugging legacy code = field repairs under pressure
- Learning new tools = training on unfamiliar equipment
It’s all the same muscle—just used in a new arena.
Don’t Underestimate Your Experience
If you’re a vet moving into tech, and you don’t have a formal degree yet, don’t worry.
Your brain already knows how to solve problems. You just need to give it new tools.
Take your instinct, discipline, and adaptability—and apply it to:
- Learning new tech
- Breaking down challenges
- Leading teams under pressure
Final Thought
The battlefield may change, but the mindset stays the same.
Problem-solving isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the will to figure it out, even when the stakes are high.
Follow more at jameshenderson.online—where every mission teaches a method, and the lessons of service become solutions in the digital world.