Patriots

What is Agile?

Agile is a set of values and principles (Agile Manifesto). It is the ability to create and respond to change in order to succeed in an uncertain and turbulent environment. According to scrum.org, Agile is a way of developing products such as software that reminds us that although computers run the code, it’s people who create and maintain it.  

 

The History of Agile

In the late 1990’s, several methodologies began to gain increasing public attention, each having a different combination of old and new ideas. These methodologies emphasized close collaboration between the development team and business stakeholders; frequent delivery of business value, tight, self-organizing teams; and smart ways to craft, confirm, and deliver code.

The term “Agile” was applied to this collection of methodologies in early 2001 when 17 software development practitioners gathered in Snowbird, Utah to discuss their shared ideas and various approaches to software development.

This joint collection of values and principles was expressed in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development and the corresponding twelve principles. Learn more at AgileAlliance 

If you’re interested in joining the next cohort, here’s a quick glance at the program’s pathway.

Program Overview

Agile for Patriots provides Agile and Scrum training for veterans and/or their spouses who display the aptitude and attitude for working on complex projects. While initially used primarily in software development, Scrum is now utilized in multiple industries such as marketing, human resources, publishing, academia and the medical field.

Participants learn theory and acquire hands-on experience during the two-week practicum.  Passing the Scrum.org Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) is a graduation requirement.  This validates the knowledge and experience gained during the program.

Invisible Empty Row
Agile For Patriots Learning Pathway

 

  1. Introduction to Agile, 1-day session
  2. Self-study to achieve a score of 85% or above on the Scrum Open assessment
  3. Ensure you have successfully completed enrollment steps with Allies in Service, registering is not enough
  4. Forward an e-mail from Allies in Service verifying you have completed all enrollment steps needed to continue the Agile for Patriots program
  5. Complete pre-training survey for Professional Scrum Foundation, PSF, workshop
  6. Attend Professional Scrum Foundation, PSF, 2-day workshop
  7. Professional Scrum Master, PSM I, certification (attempt)
    • if the PSM I is passed on the first attempt, a candidate may:
    • apply for Scrum Master role during practicum or
    • apply for Product Owner role during practicum
  8. Attend Practicum, 2 weeks
    • Utilize WordPress, Divi Builder, JIRA software
    • Sprint 1
    • Sprint Review + present practices from Agile Delivery Playbook
    • Peer review
    • Sprint 2
    • Sprint Review + present practices from Agile Delivery Playbook
    • Peer Review
    • If needed, a second attempt at PSM I
    • Sprint Review and Graduation
  9. Alumni support with Meetups at various locations in the Dallas – Ft Worth area
  10. Apprenticeship opportunity
  11. All graduates are eligible to participate in future Scrum.org workshops conducted by SmoothApps as long as they have passed the assessments for all previously attended workshops
  12. Professional Scrum Product Owner, PSPO, course
  13. PSPO I assessment
  14. PSPO I certification exam
  15. Scaled Professional Scrum, SPS, course
  16. SPS assessment
  17. SPS certification exam
  18. Professional Scrum Master, PSM II

If there is a break in a candidate’s progress, he/she may continue at a later date.

 

Eligibility

 

Applicants must fulfill the following prerequisites:

  • US military veteran or spouse
  • Registered with Allies in Service
  • Interested in pursuing an IT career
  • Willing and able to commit to the program curriculum

 

Apprenticeship

 

 

Meet Trophenia Kineard, a Professional Scrum Master, who’s willing to share her experience. She joined the Agile for Patriots program in January 2018, the second cohort, and began her Apprenticeship immediately following graduation.

Trophenia explains ”Having the opportunity to go through a two-week practicum where you get real world, hands-on experience while working on a project for external clients was phenomenal! It also helped me to quickly familiarize myself with and use industry terms such as Scrum, Increment, Product Backlog and Sprint”.

The program allowed me to complete the Scrum certifications (which ones?) and at the moment I am working in partnership with Agile for Patriots and Improving. I am working closely with the Scum Team, Scrum Master and Product Owner by assisting by using Agile principles to create a shippable increment.

Trophenia highlighted that a Scrum Master wears many hats, you are Coach encouraging people and a Change Leader assisting the team to adapt to the Agile Principles.

 

 

Program Overview

Agile for Patriots provides Agile and Scrum training for Patriots who display the aptitude and attitude for software development. Participants learn theory and acquire hands-on experience.

Passing the scrum.org Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) assessment is not a graduation requirement, but is highly encouraged as validation of the knowledge and experience gained during the program.

Eligibility

Applicants must fulfill the following prerequisites:

✔ US military veteran or spouse
✔ Registered with Allies in Service
✔ Interested in pursuing an IT career
✔ Willing and able to commit to the program curriculum

Curriculum

Applicants must fulfill the following prerequisites:

✔ Self-study to achieve a score of 85% or above on the scrum.org Open Assessment
✔ Attend one-day course: Introduction to Agile
✔ Attend two-day course: Professional Scrum Foundations (PSF)
✔ Attend two-week practicum consisting of Scrum Sprints and guest speakers
✔ Earn scrum.org PSM I certification (may be completed after the practicum)

FAQ

Q: Am I eligible for the program if I have no IT experience?
A: Yes, if you have a passion for the IT and the above requirements are met.

 

Q: How do I prepare for the Professional Scrum assessments?
A: The Scrum Guide is the place to start learning about Scrum. It is the foundation for scrum.org certifications, and is freely available online. The PSM I exam requires test-takers to apply Scrum Principles to realistic situations. Knowledge gained from personal experience and other sources is also helpful.

 

Q: How much does the Agile for Patriots training and testing cost?
A: Mentors are paired with an Agile for Patriots graduate who has a strong interest in Agile and Scrum, and is seeking a rewarding career in the industry. Program graduates are profiled on the Alumni page.

 

Q: How do I register for the next Agile for Patriots class?
A: First, be certain you are registered with Allies in Service. Second, let Allies in Service know you are interested in the Agile for Patriots program, or Contact Us directly.