From SpecOps to DevOps: 7 Transferable Special Forces Skills That Will Make You a Good DevOps Engineer!

From SpecOps to DevOps: 7 Transferable Special Forces Skills That Will Make You a Good DevOps Engineer!

As I stood in the heart of a dark forest, the frigid air biting at my skin, my heart pounded with a familiar adrenaline rush, and my senses remained on high alert. At that moment, I couldn't help but reflect on the remarkable journey that had led me to this point. Yet, as I looked down at my attire, I realized that I was no longer wearing the tactical gear. Instead, I found myself at the forefront of a new challenge: troubleshooting a critical incident...

Each morning Instead of camouflaged attire and heavy gear, I'm fine-tuning my chair to the perfect ergonomic position. Discipline is maintained; equipment must always be in perfect condition. That's why, with great care and love, I assess whether the entire infrastructure for which I am responsible is ready for work.

Before diving into more detailed work, I reminisce about my previous life. While working in the special unit, I learned a lot of things that aren't technical but have greatly helped me in my role as a DevOps engineer for one year. In this text, I'd like to highlight seven skills that I've realized are perfectly transferable to software engineering.

Special Forces training is based on testing your mental and physical endurance. Instructors push your mental and physical abilities to the limit while looking for the slightest weakness to disqualify you from training. Exposure to sub-zero temperatures, extreme heat, dehydration, and limited food, all while exerting a tremendous effort, tests the true desire of those who love that challenging work. And why would anyone want such challenging work? I'd simply say it's a special calling that arises among people. Not everyone can or should pursue it.

When I decided to change my life direction and enter the world of technology, despite having always been in close touch with the latest technological trends, I told myself I must use the advantage within me. The incredible desire to succeed and improve myself, no matter how painful it might be at that moment.

So it went. I studied books from the Faculty of Informatics for exactly one year, learning everything I could about software engineering at an intense pace. I knew precisely the position I wanted: DevOps Engineer. I later realized that, just like in the special forces, it was much more than a job position. DevOps is a way of life, culture, and, above all, empathy toward other engineers. It's a way of life I enjoy; I can help and improve myself every day. I watched many hours of YouTube videos and took Udemy courses. I learned a lot from Viktor Farcic's books and videos. I was as persistent as I was in Special Forces training. I knew I had to first understand the essence of the DevOps Philosophy.

Here are seven things that are identical and transferable from SpecOps to a DevOps position:

1. Teamwork: Your colleagues are the most important, and a team is only as strong as its weakest link. Respect your colleagues because they are with you on the battlefield.
2. Precision and Attention to Detail: It's all in the details, whether you're working on a piece of software production or a dangerous assignment. The details tell you everything.
3. Adaptability: Both positions require you to adapt to changes quickly. You will experience unforeseen situations daily.
4. Resource Management: You cannot go into a task and use up your resources at the start. Just as in a DevOps culture, resources must operate at an optimal pace and utilization.
5. Continuous Improvement: The special forces are in constant training and self-upgrading to react in the best possible way in emergencies. It's the same with the DevOps culture; we strive to be better every day and respond faster to challenges.
6. Safety First: Both positions require a high level of safety awareness. In special units, strict rules preserve the security of the team and citizens while protecting information. In the DevOps culture, great attention is given to the security of data, applications, networks, and more.
7. Clear Communication and Knowledge Transfer: As in the special forces, clear and precise communication, knowledge transfer from experienced team members to juniors, and strict adherence to certain procedures in response to incidents and other challenges are crucial in the DevOps culture.

In conclusion, though these positions seem entirely different, they share affinities I'm truly happy about because they are part of my everyday life. However, the most important characteristic is the burning desire for progress and learning, regardless of the pain we feel.

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