AI Mission Ready
For Veterans, Spouses & Caregivers · By Veterans
A cohort-based AI readiness sprint. An in-person kickoff, 13 recorded sessions across three weeks, weekly faculty huddles, a protected build window, and a Demo Day where you present what you built.
Anchored in the U.S. Department of Labor’s AI Literacy Framework. Delivered from Leesburg, Virginia, in partnership with Strategy@Work and LeadWithAI.
The first cohort delivered.
12/13
Completers shipped a working AI workflow at Demo Day
5
Service branches represented, Vietnam to Post-9/11
100%
Would recommend the program to other veterans
90%
Want to return as AI coaches for future cohorts
If anyone can lead the way with AI, it's veterans.
Mika Cross Lead Program Advisor, AI Mission Ready · U.S. Army Veteran
One sprint. Five phases.
Opening Circle
At Leesburg Junction. Meet your cohort of 16 to 24 participants, choose your pathway, and form your Fire Team. Three pathways: The Venture, The Pivot, and The Current Role. Build for the business you own, the job you want, or the job you have.
The Curriculum Sprint
12 blocks plus one short module, 13 recorded sessions at about 30 minutes each, with live weekly faculty huddles. Plan on about five hours a week, no more than an hour a day. Your Fire Team keeps the momentum.
Mini Demo Day
A small-group session with your Fire Team after the final block. Present your Demo Day concept, get faculty and peer feedback, and sharpen it before the build window.
The Build Window
No new content. A short, protected window to build, refine, and rehearse your Demo Day deliverable with coach support.
Demo Day
Every participant presents a working AI tool to the full cohort and invited guests. A workflow, an assistant, an automation, or an app. Built by you, tied to your goals.
12 blocks, from first prompt to working build.
Foundations
What AI actually is, your first real conversation, reading the output with the CLEAR test, and responsible use and data risk.
Core Workflows
Turning your work into prompts, writing and communication for any audience, research and analysis, and images, slides, and beyond.
Build and Lead
Building your first AI product, eliminate and simplify first, red-teaming your own ideas, and leading an AI-ready team.
Vibe Coding Intro
A prototype-first intro to building with AI. Nothing that touches personal data or a public launch ships without expert human review.
One paid AI platform is the only requirement, and Oath & Oak covers a stipend toward it. Default models handle every exercise, so no premium tier is needed. Everything else is demonstrated, not required.
Curriculum design draws on thought leadership from Kris Saling, Nina Atkin, and Janie Scanlon.
How the room works.
Opt-In Sharing
Pass is always allowed. No one is put on the spot.
No Rank in the Room
Service history is respected but creates no hierarchy.
Progress Over Perfection
The goal is forward movement, not flawless output.
Confidentiality + Respect
What participants share in the room stays in the room.
AI Safety Baseline
No sensitive personal, financial, or work-restricted information enters AI tools.
In their own words.
I've been thinking about my business idea for ten years, and thanks to this course, a ten-year idea has finally happened.
Trish Martinelli
Cohort 1 · Veteran Business Track
It used to take me up to four or five hours a week just to write one letter for my business. Two minutes later, I have something I could never do myself.
Pat Cassidy
Cohort 1
I just thought I was going to come here and learn AI, but it taught me that I can learn anything at a higher speed with AI.
Akinwande “AO” Oshodi
Cohort 1
Before learning how to use AI, everything fell on me and my wife in our small business. Now everything is more intentional and effective.
Abraham Avila
Cohort 1 · Casa De Avila's Tacos
I learned a lot of things faster than I thought I would. It was more intuitive than I thought it might be and I had a lot of fun.
Heather Boyd
Cohort 1
The best thing that we can do is provide our veterans with more skills to be successful.
Kris Saling
Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired · Lead Program Technical Advisor
Cohort 2 is forming.
Seats are limited. Join the waitlist and we will contact you when enrollment opens. Graduates stay connected through the Oath & Oak community, First Friday events, and pathways into advanced Fieldcraft programs.