Aviture Inc. Uses AWS-Based Mobile App to Help U.S. Air Force Improve the Recruiting Experience

Aviture, an AWS Partner, helped the Air Force Recruiting Service use Amazon Web Service (AWS) to scale to support 3,000 daily users; provide a consistent experience for recruiters, recruits, and families; and release new software features and enhancements every two weeks. Aviture designed Aim High, a new AWS based mobile app that uses AWS serverless technologies and runs in AWS GovCloud (US).

Every year, the Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS) assesses more than 45,000 individuals for service in the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and U.S. Space Force. The organization’s mission is to inspire, engage, and recruit the next generation of airmen and guardians.

As part of its mission, AFRS wanted to create a new application that served as a point of consistency for recruits and their families.

“We had different websites for the Air Force, Reserve, and Space Force, and we wanted to offer a one-stop shop that pulled all the information together,” says Capt. Michael Bambarger, Aim High functional manager for Air Force Recruiting Service. “We wanted to make the recruiting experience easier for recruiters and recruits, and also connect families of recruits and give them updated information about their son or daughter as they move through the military training experience.”

AFRS knew scalability would be a key requirement for a new application because thousands of people would be using the app at any given moment. The organization has personal identifiable information (PII) that needs to protect, so security was also required. In addition, AFRS needed to ensure application users had easy access to the latest training information.

“We need to have updated information on everything from basic training dates to technical training class schedules,” says Leslie Brown, Air Force Recruiting Service chief of public affairs.

To develop a new recruiting application, AFRS started working with Aviture, a software solutions provider and AWS Partner. Aviture had previously created web and mobile applications for other Air Force divisions. Its team of engineers, designers, and user experience professionals built Aim High, a new mobile app combining Air Force, Space Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve recruiting information.

Aim High uses a containerized application environment based on AWS Lambda, AWS Fargate, and Amazon DynamoDB for serverless functionality and automatic scalability. The app runs in AWS GovCloud (US), which is designed to host sensitive data and meets the most stringent U.S. government security and compliance requirements, and Cloud One, a provider of cloud computing platforms for government agencies. Aviture collaborated with Cloud One and AFRS to develop the app and a corresponding website as well as create the underlying architecture.

Taking advantage of AWS GovCloud (US) and Cloud One, AFRS enhanced application security through built-in guardrails and an Authority to Operate (ATO) on AWS. The ATO, an AWS Program helps AWS Partners meet their customers’ authorization needs and security, privacy, and compliance requirements.

By building Aim High on AWS, Aviture ensured the app can scale easily to support new and future users. The app usage increased from 250 downloads in the first 30 days to more than 245,000 downloads across Android and iOS devices as of August 2022.

“We have around 3,000 daily users, and 300 new users every day,” Capt. Bambarger says. “With AWS, we know we have the scalability we need to manage any number of users.” The app also scales up or down on demand to manage traffic spikes, such as when new photos are posted.

Aim High is also taking advantage of the reliability of AWS to ensure app users can access information at all times.

“For some people, Aim High is the first time they’ll see anything about the Air Force, so it’s important that the app is always up and running,” says Kimo Scott, senior architect and technical lead at Aviture. “AWS gives us that ability.”

Aim High follows recruits through the entire Air Force recruiting process, from the moment they engage with a recruiter until they enter Basic Military Training. Air Force recruiters use the app to connect with prospects and expand their network, while recruits use it to get a close-up look at the possibilities of an Air Force career, connect with recruiters, and prepare for their training. Additionally, family members use the app to view photos and other information that catalogs the recruit experience.

“Using Aim High, families can witness for the first time what their son or daughter is going through at basic training,” Capt. Bambarger says. The app also includes physical training information to allow applicants to prepare for basic training and enable recruiters to lead physical fitness classes.

AFRS has increased its agility by running the organization’s application environment on AWS, which has led to consistent biweekly releases of new software updates and app enhancements. For example, AFRS recently updated recruiters’ digital profiles to include social media and a secure personal contact method. The organization also added a QR code within Aim High that sends updated contact information to recruiters.

“Previously, a recruiter would have cards or a sign-in desk, which would require the recruiters to manually enter recruit data like name and contact information,” Capt. Bambarger says. “This feature saves the recruiter time after a recruiting event, and it reduces errors that sometimes happen because of manual entry.”

AFRS and Aviture continue working together to improve Aim High and deliver more value to end users.

“At Aviture, one of our core values is ‘Create Impact,’” says Steve Miller, director of government solutions at Aviture. “With Aim High, we’ve been able to make a big impact for AFRS. There won’t be a single airman or guardian who enters the Air Force that won’t have used this app. That is hugely impactful and encouraging to us as a technology provider.”