How Veterans Can Contribute to a Necessary Skillset: Technology

January 31, 2023

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Happy New Year to the Community. I hope everyone came back from the holiday break well rested for what should be an interesting year.

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One trend attracting a lot of attention coming into 2023 is the use of artificial (AI) technology, and specifically ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November of 2022. What is it? Think of it as an extremely smart Alexa or Google Home device that you can ask questions or instruct to do basic tasks like write a newsletter for a veteran’s community (click HERE to view the chatbot’s answer). However, unlike Alexa, ChatGPT uses a combination of AI and supervised and reinforcement learning techniques to get smarter over time. The result? A computer program that is extremely lifelike and, in some ways, scary.

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There are many use cases for AI in the civilian world such as improving underwriting models for banks, automating basic functional tasks in businesses, powering customer service chat functions, and many others. That said, the utility of AI is not lost on the military complex. I have an acquaintance (a veteran) who is the U.S. Special Adviser to the President of Ukraine, and he discussed one such use case with me recently.

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Both Russian and Ukrainian forces are using drones to change the battlefield by replacing the need for human eyes to direct artillery fire. As drones are deployed, Ukrainian soldiers are using AI to hack into the drone feeds to great effect. Specifically, when Russian forces use drones to locate Ukrainian forces, the Ukrainians in turn hack into the feed to determine the location where the drones are being controlled. Using this data, they then direct artillery to the location, which is usually occupied by senior Russian leaders. Amazing.

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Given the efficacy of AI, many countries are calling for a ban on its use on the battlefield. Because most believe this effort will ultimately be unsuccessful (or simply ignored by countries outside the Geneva convention), the U.S. and other countries are investing heavily to train their soldiers on AI and other technologies.

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Why is all this important for leaders of growth companies? Many veterans have the technology skills necessary, whether in AI or other areas, to help companies differentiate their solutions and operate more efficiently. The tech industry and military have a long history dating back to the Korean War when IBM built a scientific computer, the 701, to aid the war effort. That bond has only strengthened in the decades since. Technology giants like Microsoft and Google have taken on military contracts and the U.S. Army and Air Force even have their own venture capital firms. In addition to these high-level tie-ups, the military has also served as a steady source of talent for the tech industry. Some specific examples:

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• ‍Cybersecurity: Last April, I detailed how veterans could contribute to the cyber capabilities of growth companies. Each of the armed services has a military occupational specialty (MOS – or job description) for cyber defense.  These specific skills, along with the operational and data security skills of all veterans, can be an asset.
   

• Software: Ships and planes run on code these days, and you can’t exactly pull either over to call a programmer if you have a glitch. As such, Air Force and Navy veterans who have served as electronics and cyber warfare officers can plug in quickly to bolster your development team.
   
• Hardware:The Army has one of the largest installed bases of tech systems, and Marines are legendary for getting the most out of their equipment – much of which is older technology. If your business also has an aging infrastructure, a network admin or data systems administrator from either the Army or Marine Corps can help.
   
• Artificial Intelligence:In this category, the “new kid on the block” – the U.S. Space Force – has a clear lead. Founded four short years ago, the USSF invests heavily in training its people on AI as a productivity enabler. This makes a lot of sense given that Guardians (what they call members of the USSF) are tasked with patrolling…well…space. Last time I checked, that’s a large area to cover.  

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Regardless of your company’s technology needs, consider hiring a veteran to address them. As discussed in our August VET, more veterans are transitioning every day, and they often have the skills to provide your organization with technology capability and capacity immediately.

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Charlie Mike*

Dave & the Summit Partners Veterans Community

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* “Charlie Mike” is the military phonetic alphabet for the letters C and M which stand for “continue the mission,” a phrase commonly used in tactical situations

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