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The allure of the AWS Golden Jacket

"There are many Gold Jackets. It's your journey that counts!"

TThe allure of the AWS Golden Jacket has grown significantly in recent years, becoming a symbol of accomplishment within the AWS community. For cloud professionals, acquiring this jacket means more than just obtaining certifications—it’s a journey of dedication, mastery, and perseverance. Let’s dive into what it takes to get one, and the various versions that exist.

The AWS Golden Jacket: A Badge of Honour

Many may have heard of the AWS Golden Jacket but do not fully understand what it represents or how it is obtained. Unlike other professional accomplishments that are often part of official programs, the Golden Jacket carries an exclusive prestige within the AWS community. It isn’t something advertised openly on the AWS website, nor is it an award that everyone even has access to. To many, it’s a symbol—a recognition of relentless hard work, continuous learning, and achievement in a highly competitive environment.

The Golden Jacket is awarded to individuals who have not only completed numerous AWS certifications but also demonstrated significant involvement in the community. Whether through professional training, online engagements, technical mentorships, or by serving as an AWS Ambassador, the jacket reflects the multifaceted contributions of the person wearing it.

Versions of the Golden Jacket

There isn’t just a single Golden Jacket out there; over time, multiple versions have been introduced to recognize different levels of contribution. Cloud professionals take pride in each of these milestones.

The Golden Jacket symbolizes the journey of a cloud professional, representing distinct chapters of professional development within AWS—the early certification efforts, technical contributions, and continuous pursuit of community engagement.

How to Get an AWS Golden Jacket

Obtaining an AWS Golden Jacket isn’t straightforward. There are multiple paths to acquire one, but they all require persistence, active community involvement, and in some cases, being in the right place at the right time. Here’s a breakdown of the various ways:

  1. Work for an AWS Premier Partner
    • If you are employed by an AWS Premier Partner, you can get a Golden Jacket by requesting it through your AWS Partner Manager. AWS Premier Partners have a direct line to the AWS network and can leverage their position to obtain jackets for their top talent, often as recognition for training or achievements.
  2. Become an AWS Ambassador
    • The AWS Ambassador program is a community-driven initiative that identifies individuals who are passionate about helping others in the AWS ecosystem. Being nominated and becoming an AWS Ambassador often involves helping others get certified, conducting technical workshops, and actively contributing to cloud learning. Ambassadors may be rewarded with a Golden Jacket during major AWS events, such as the AWS Global Summit, where they are recognized for their exceptional dedication to the AWS community.
  3. Complete All Certifications and Buy It Yourself
    • One of the more challenging and independent routes to the Golden Jacket is to acquire all AWS certifications, proving your all-encompassing expertise in cloud technologies. In this case, the individual can purchase the jacket directly from the Golden Jacket vendor. However, this process is not without its hurdles—you need to work directly with specific members of the AWS Training and Certification (T&C) team. It’s important to note that the Golden Jacket is not an official AWS T&C benefit, so opening a standard AWS support ticket will not help. It’s all about knowing the right contacts and proving your worth.
  4. AWS Employees
    • If you are employed directly by AWS, there’s an internal process for obtaining the Golden Jacket. AWS rewards its employees who demonstrate significant expertise and involvement. The internal recognition process ensures that deserving AWS employees who have contributed substantially to technical expertise and community leadership also have a path to obtain this prestigious symbol.

The Community Aspect

The AWS Golden Jacket is not just about individual success; it’s deeply rooted in the community aspect of cloud computing. Those who wear it are often the ones who actively share their knowledge—whether through writing blogs, conducting webinars, speaking at conferences, or helping others learn AWS. It’s this community-oriented mindset that the jacket most significantly represents.

The camaraderie within the AWS community is exemplified when people share their Golden Jacket experiences, allowing others to be part of the moment and the larger community. This tradition emphasizes that, while the journey to the Golden Jacket might be personal, its impact is meant to inspire and uplift others.

Moving Forward

AWS continues to grow and evolve, and the community grows with it. It’s inspiring to see new people come up, eager to learn and become part of this collective growth.

For those of you aiming for the Golden Jacket, know that the path involves a mix of technical expertise, collaboration, and sometimes a little creativity in finding the right contacts. Stay tuned as AWS community leaders will be sharing more details—step by step—on how you can work towards getting your official AWS Golden Jacket.

The Symbolism Behind the Golden Jacket

Ultimately, the Golden Jacket is not about the piece of clothing itself. It’s about the journey—the late nights of studying, the long hours spent troubleshooting a complex cloud migration, the weekends dedicated to helping someone pass a certification exam, and the willingness to continuously improve. It symbolizes the culmination of skills, expertise, and an unending curiosity to learn and teach others.

It’s a symbol that signifies being part of a community that encourages constant growth. It acknowledges the contributions made by individuals not just to enhance their skills, but to bring the entire AWS community forward.

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