Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Edmund (Ned) Curry left active duty and entered the State Department as a Veteran’s Innovation Partnership Fellow while also serving in the reserves.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your military history.
I grew up outside Annapolis and commissioned through Army ROTC from the University of Maryland. I served about five years as an Armor Officer on Active Duty as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Troop Commander, and Squadron Staff Officer. I deployed once overseas and was stationed in Texas. I continue to serve in the Reserve Component today.
And what did you do after you left active duty?
When I decided to leave active duty, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I looked at law school. I looked at getting my MBA. I looked at being a teacher. I didn’t really know what I wanted, but I knew it was time for a change. My main priority when I left active duty was to live in a place I chose, so instead of following a job or school to a city, I chose to move to Colorado. I chose Colorado for typical millennial reasons: craft beer, hiking, and skiing.
I didn’t know anyone who lived in Colorado, but this was part of the appeal. I felt that if I had moved home, my family and old friends would’ve pulled me in a million different directions, whether for social functions or trying to nudge me towards career decisions I was not ready to make. So in this sense, Colorado was the perfect place for me to really discover who I was and what I wanted, without outside distractions. I joined a reserve unit nearby, so that kept me somewhat occupied while I searched for jobs.
My approach was not without its drawbacks. I turned down good job offers that were not in Colorado. And it took about 100 applications over the course of eight months to find a job. It was an incredibly humbling experience, but I am a better person for it.
Eventually I got a position working for the City & County of Denver. My boss was a retired First Sergeant, so we got along great. I enjoyed learning how a local government operates, but after about a year, I realized I wanted to pursue a career in foreign policy. So I started looking at graduate school for international relations.
How did you decide on attending a school outside the United States? (If you’re comfortable talking about how you financed this that would also be useful)
Two words: money and time. The tuition fees for top graduate schools in international relations in the U.S. routinely cost upwards of $100,000 for two years of study. In the U.K., the standard length of time for a master’s degree is 12 months, with tuition usually anywhere between $10,000 to $25,000 depending on the school.
By studying abroad, I could enter the workforce earlier, saving money along the way. Oh, and living in the United Kingdom was pretty fun too.
Financially, I paid for school using a combination of my savings, a federal student loan, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill (yes, you can use your GI Bill and Federal Loan abroad).
Can you tell us a bit about the program you joined with the State Department?
After graduate school, I applied and was fortunate enough to be selected as a Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP) Fellow. The program began under Secretary Kerry in 2014 as a way to increase the number of veterans who serve in the Department of State. VIP Fellows must have a Master’s degree within the last two years and receive an honorable discharge from military service. The fellowship is a full-time civil service position based in Washington D.C., but capped at twelve months in length. Fellows are encouraged to rotate to different offices within the State Department during the fellowship. About 80% of each cohort secures a full-time position at the Department of State.
My cohort consisted of about 20 veterans. We had a good mix of former officers and non-commissioned officers who left the military at different stages of their career. A few of us were still serving as reservists. For veterans looking to work in the State Department, the VIP Fellowship is the absolute best crash-course on American diplomacy. The ability to rotate to different offices is especially valuable, as you can explore exactly what type of work interests you. And there’s nothing else like it across the federal government: it’s tailored to the graduate-level educated veteran who still wants to be engaged in U.S. foreign policy.
If your readers are interested, they can find more about the VIP Fellowship here:
What do you do now?
I finished my VIP Fellowship and now work as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). CSO’s mission is to anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict that undermines U.S. national interests. The bureau implements this mission by forward deploying stabilization advisors to conflict zones coupled with data-driven analysis. My job is to monitor political, economic, social, military and other significant developments and trends. I use this information to implement and recommend policies and programs that support U.S. foreign policy objectives in the conflict stabilization field.
How is your military experience valued at the State Department?
My military experience is certainly valued at the State Department, but many already have quite a bit of exposure to the military through their work in the State Department. Some served in Iraq or Afghanistan in Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), others maybe served a tour at a Combatant Command, or simply were exposed from their time at an Embassy. There is definitely this shared sense of mission and purpose at the State Department that many veterans will find familiar. I happen to work in an office with a few of other veterans, so I enjoy having colleagues that can relate to my time in uniform.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in your transition off active duty?
My biggest challenge when I transitioned was finding a job, but also finding my purpose after hanging up the uniform.
When I first informed some of my peers I’d be leaving the Army, the reactions were mixed. Some were supportive and genuinely excited for me. But I still remember this one Officer who reacted by saying, “Oh you’re leaving the Army? Have fun selling insurance the rest of your life.” I used the naysayers as more motivation to go out there and succeed.
It takes a certain amount of confidence in oneself to leave the military and believe everything will be ok, because the military in some senses makes everything easy. Healthcare? Free. Good salary? Check. Don’t know where you want to live? Yea, Uncle Sam’s got a place picked out, just for you!
Nothing is more empowering and scary at the same time than having the freedom to shape exactly the type of life you want for yourself. Most of my undergrad peers experienced this when we graduated college. As an ROTC cadet, this feeling was deferred until I left Active Duty five years later. It took me about a year after leaving the military to realize I wanted to pursue a career in foreign policy. I took comfort during this transition in the fact that 65% of veterans leave their first civilian job within two years, but it was still a big mental challenge to be at the proverbial crossroads and not know which path to take.
What has life been like balancing a civilian career and a career in the reserves?
It’s not easy, but I genuinely enjoy serving. The level of time commitment in the Reserve Component can vary greatly depending on your unit’s mission, your rank, and your position. As a company commander, it’s a lot more work than the “one weekend, two weeks a year” concept. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The opportunity to leave a positive impact on the lives of Soldiers is something I cherish and don’t take for granted.
One benefit of the Reserve Component I don’t think is highlighted enough to those leaving Active Duty is the freedom to select your assignments. Yes, if you want to be promoted you should target certain positions/units at certain stages in your career. But in many ways, the process is similar to the civilian sector: you interview and share your resume (evaluations) with your prospective employer (the Reserve Component unit). The hiring manager (Commander) then decides to hire you (signs transfer paperwork). It’s a really liberating feeling to know once my time in command concludes, I have the freedom to select a unit that aligns with my goals and interests.
When you combine the Reserve Component with your civilian job and family/social life, it can be a lot to manage. But it’s really not that different than those who balance a full-time job with part-time grad school, or an entrepreneur who is always ‘on.’ I think it can be tempting as a Reserve Soldier to think, “woe is me, I have to do all this extra work.” My perspective is framed with the knowledge that there are plenty of Americans who have to work two jobs or more and don’t receive all the benefits the Reserve Component offers – pension, healthcare, decent pay.
And again, at the end of the day, I enjoy the privilege to serve and lead. Call me a sap, but I still get that burst of patriotism and pride in my gut when I present awards, participate in a promotion ceremony, or read the oath of enlistment for Soldiers. Of course, the Reserve Component certainly isn’t right for everyone who leaves active duty; I understand the desire for a clean break and fresh start. But for those who still have a twinge to serve, I recommend it.
What advice would you have for anyone thinking of a career in the State Department?
Target fellowships and other programs that can act as your gateway into the Department. Programs such as Presidential Management Fellows (PMF), Pathways Interns, and the VIP Fellowship are just a few of the ways to get your foot in the door. You are much more likely to land a position if you start with these specialized programs than if you apply through USAJOBS and no prior experience in the Department. If you are interested in serving as a Foreign Service Officer, start studying and take the exam before you leave active duty – it’s a very long hiring process.
Most importantly, where was the best chow hall?
Without a doubt – the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
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