As the procession of floats glides through the heart of Pasadena on New Year’s morning, one will stand out not just for its towering replicas of a Navy ship, fighter jet and helicopter, but for the impactful message it carries across borders.
The float, titled “Coming Home to New Beginnings,” is the creation of Coding for Veterans, a Canadian nonprofit and the only entrant from Canada in the 136th Rose Parade.
The float is not only a tribute to the military, but also embodies the mission of the organization: to provide a path for new beginnings for those who have served, company leaders said.
“ Our program Coding for Veterans helps retrain US military veterans in software development, cybersecurity, and the program is delivered 100% online through the University of Southern California (USC)’s Marshall School of Business,” Coding for Veterans CEO Jeff Musson said in a recent interview.
Returning to the Rose Parade for the second year in a row, the Toronto-based organization is building on its success after winning the most outstanding float from outside the United States award at the 135th Rose Parade.
This time, Coding for Veterans’ float embodies the parade’s theme, “Best Day Ever!”, by illustrating the journey of veterans transitioning from military service to civilian careers in the information technology sector through its program.
The design pays tribute to the armed forces of both the U.S. and Canada by featuring the two countries’ flags, alongside depiction of military service. A replica of the USS Princeton, a guided-missile cruiser based in San Diego, represents the Navy, while a fighter jet symbolizes the Air Force and a helicopter salutes both the Marines and the Army, Musson said.
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In addition, the float includes a “Dedication Garden” section, which is adorned with flowers purchased by members of the public. These blooms are accompanied by messages of gratitude and support, displayed on a digital wall, to honor those who have served in the military.
The float also highlights the organization’s technology-focused mission with a prominently displayed laptop and an embedded QR code, which allows parade-goers to scan with their phones to learn more about the program.
“For us, not only is this parade great to get word out to potential veterans that are looking to enroll in the program, but also to bring awareness to companies of why they should be hiring military veterans in software development and IT,” Musson said.
Since 2019, Coding for Veterans has partnered with the University of Ottawa to offer completely online training for former service members, who earn an industry certification after as little as six months of study.
Veterans can use the GI Bill to cover their cost of training, and in some cases, they can even start retraining while still in the service. The organization has also joined forces with USC’s Marshall School of Business to extend its mission to U.S. veterans, helping them, as Musson puts it, “ go from serving on the battlefield to now serving in cyberspace.”
“ In the U.S., there’s over 750,000 open IT jobs projected in the next 12 to 18 months, and so there’s a huge opportunity for graduates coming out of our program to gain employment in the U.S. IT sector, provide for their families with good stable careers” Musson said.