State Dept. VIP fellowship opens application period

The U.S. Department of State is accepting applications for the sixth cohort of the Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP) Fellowship program from Thursday, October 17 to Monday, October 21, 2019, for Veterans who recently earned a graduate degree and have an interest in foreign affairs careers.

The VIP Fellowship is a unique twelve-month program funded and administered by the U.S. Department of State (State) that recruits talented Veterans with masters in international affairs and political science degree fields. The fellowship provide opportunities for educated, high achieving Veterans to gain experience in foreign policy so they can continue serving the U.S. beyond the military. They will build on their existing experience to make them more competitive for permanent positions in professional foreign policy and international development careers. Fellows will integrate the knowledge and expertise earned from the Global War on Terrorism and professional military training and apply them to their roles at State. During their tenure, fellows are encouraged to learn more about the entire department by taking part in 30-60 day rotations at other bureaus.

VIP offers an intimate look at how the U.S. government conducts foreign affairs in Washington, D.C., and is an opportunity to acquire a network of professional contacts in the foreign policy world. They will take part in activities such as organizing international forums, web campaigns, and attend conferences on subjects of international interest. Sponsoring bureaus will provide hands on projects that will take advantage of and build on fellows’ professional skill sets.  The program has made, and continues to make, an important contribution to strengthen America’s global leadership. It produces foreign affairs professionals working throughout U.S. global affairs agencies, the intelligence community, and the private sector. VIP alumni contribute to a diversity of fields including economic, environmental, and political fields.

How to apply

Eligible Veterans may submit applications for the 2019-2020 time frame by searching “Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellow” on USAJobs.gov. The official application period closes on October 21, but it may close earlier if 250 applications are received for each of the two position descriptions. We advise interested Veterans to not delay in applying and prepare now!

Learn more at VIPFellowship.org and follow @VIPFellowship on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to stay up to date. You will find a program overview attached along with frequently asked questions for interested Veterans.

Christine Johnson is a foreign affairs officer for the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships.