Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowship Program
History / Mission
On November 9, 2009, Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, established the Veterans Employment Initiative. The Initiative is a strategic approach to helping the men and women who have served our country in the military find employment in the Federal Government. In support of this initiative and in recognition of a veteran’s natural potential as a source of talent for diplomacy and development, the U.S. Department of State launched the Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP), a public-private alliance platform aimed at serving America’s veterans and preparing them for diplomacy and development careers, by providing education and employment resources and expertise, while enhancing America’s global leadership.
Focus
VIP will help build and deploy strategic partnerships between the United States (U.S.) Government and U.S. Private Sector to mobilize resources and build networks to promote foreign affairs career opportunities for veterans. The Partnership will focus on the following elements of engagement to support veterans’ transition to diplomacy and development careers:
- Education: Assist with educational opportunities to study international relations;
- Fellowship: Establish fellowship opportunities at U.S government foreign affairs agencies;
- Employment: Facilitate international public and private employment opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements
VIP Fellowships are open to U.S. Armed Forces Veterans and Transitioning U.S. Military who have completed a Master’s degree or higher in the preferred fields of International Business, International Relations/Affairs, Public Policy, Public Administration, or a related field. Eligible veterans must apply within two years of graduate degree completion, except for those precluded from doing so due to their U.S. Military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree completion to apply. U.S. Armed Forces Reservists and National Guard Members are eligible, provided they have completed a minimum of two years of time in service. Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic developmental program.
How to Apply
To apply to be a part of the next VIP Fellowship class, please prepare the following information for submission through the associated job announcement(s) listed below through USAJOBS.gov starting on September 6 for cohort 2018-19, expected to start boarding this fall:
Foreign Affairs Officer – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/510033600
Program Analyst – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/510028300
- A current resume. Use your resume to highlight your education, expertise, achievements and honors, extracurricular activities/community service, language skills, and any leadership experience. The resume should not exceed two pages.
- A cover letter not to exceed 450 words. In your cover letter, please include your areas of focus (i.e. economics, regional affairs, technology) and indicate your job position preference – Foreign Affairs Officer and/or Program Analyst.
- Declaration of Graduate Degree Grade Point Average (GPA). An official transcript verification may be required at a later time. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications. If you are scheduled to finish a Master’s Degree by the projected start date, but have not yet graduated the program, provide a Certified Letter of your current GPA with important dates (i.e., date of course completion and graduation), signed by a senior official or formal registrar in student records.
- Any educational transcripts. It is recommended to include any available transcripts from your current and/or past educational degrees. Please merge all documents into one for uploading, and use a descending order, which allows for the highest education to be seen first. All transcripts should be in English or English translation.
- A DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from the United States Armed Forces. This program is for U.S. Veterans and Transitioning Military only, therefore this document must be included (and/or a DD-215, if applicable). If you do not yet have a DD-214, but are scheduled for discharge by the projected program start date, please provide a Certified Letter with a Statement of Credible Service including important dates (i.e., scheduled end date of service).
- If applicable, education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
- If applicable, provide your Veterans Affairs (VA) Service Connected Disability Rating Letter. This alerts the U.S. Department of State that the VA has declared you eligible for veteran’s compensation and benefits, to include Veterans Employment Preference at a Federal institution, such as Noncompetitive Eligibility (NCE) and Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA).
- If applicable, your United States Armed Forces Reserves or National Guard official member documentation (i.e., Verification of Military Status). Active reservists and guard members are eligible to apply provided they have two years of time in service. Please note that all fellows will be located in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area and do not receive Military Leave (ML) as stipulated in the program’s Civil Service (CS) Temporary Excepted Appointment hiring authority, however acquired Annual Leave (AL) may be used for required military duty days, weekend drills and necessary travel time. This is subject to change as we investigate more options.
*We will be unable to process your application without all of the above information. Take a moment to revisit the list of qualifications here, before sending your application for submission.*
Applications are accepted during certain time frames of the year only. Applications received outside of these dates will not be eligible for consideration. Applications for the 2018-19 cohort will be accepted September 6-17, 2018, through two vacancy announcements on USA Jobs. Follow @VIPFellowship on Twitter to receive direct links to the USA Jobs announcements when they open on September 6th. For more details on the application process and current due dates, visit the application process page, here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the structure of this program?
Key components include: Twelve-month full-time employment, beginning in the fall each year, alongside mentorship and professional development opportunities throughout the year. Each fellow will receive a portfolio with assigned work commitments as a Foreign Affairs Officer or Program Analyst. This differs with regards to the office that hosts the fellow, and is in addition to participating in fellowship activities.
What are the selection criteria?
Criteria include: outstanding leadership and life experiences, as well as demonstrated excellence in academic, cross-cultural, and communication skills. This program is highly competitive due to the limited spaces available. Please provide the most comprehensive assessment of your skills, leadership qualities and achievements in a limited and to-the-point format when applying.
What is the minimum GPA?
An applicant’s cumulative master’s degree GPA should be 3.2 or above on a 4.0 scale. If applicants went to a foreign university, they must provide a certified letter of GPA equivalent in English – signed by a senior official in student records, while it is also recommended to submit official transcripts. Official transcripts may be required at a later time.
What if I am about to graduate, but it is after the submission deadline?
Applicants must have graduated by the projected start date of the program. If a student is about to graduate, they must provide a certified letter of the expected graduation date, current GPA and have it signed by a senior official in student records, while it is also recommended to submit official transcripts.
Will I need a security clearance?
Participants must receive a Secret or Top Secret security clearance and pass a suitability review. The hosting agency initiates and pays for the background investigation and clearance review. However, applicants must cover fingerprinting, document preparation, and mailing costs. While having a previous security clearance can assist and expedite the review process, a new or re-validated clearance that is specific to the VIP Fellow’s agency and position is required.
What is the duration of the fellowship?
Contingent upon successful completion of a security investigation and granting of a security clearance, the fellowships will last 12 months from the start date.
What is the timing of the program?
Applications will open in September, and selections are expected to be made within two months for a potential start date of late fall on a yearly basis, pending the granting of a secret or top secret security clearance.
Where is the fellowship located?
All positions will be in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Please note that the cost of relocation will not be covered by the program (i.e. moving and travel costs). Once you have received a security clearance and start date, please reach out to VIPFellowship@state.gov to connect with current fellows and gain assistance for smooth transition.
Will compensation be provided?
Fellows are paid as federal employees at the GS-9 level. Salary ranges from $56,233-$73,105 (dependent on previous experience) over the twelve months of VIP Fellowship employment. Relocation expenses are not covered.
Do I get time off or vacation pay?
Fellows will acquire Annual Leave (AL) as they did in the military or prior federal employment (which transfers over), as well as Sick Leave (SL), however Military Leave (ML) does not apply to a one year temporary appointment, therefore if fellows are Reserves or Guard members – they must use AL for required duty.
Will benefits be provided?
Fellows are offered the opportunity to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHB). However, these fellowships do not provide life insurance or similar benefits. Housing is also the responsibility of the fellow to obtain.
What are the options for conversion to a Federal job?
The VIP Fellowship is designed to provide experiential learning opportunities and skills that build on a completed Master’s degree. Fellows may pursue careers in the private, as well as public sector, upon completion of the program. This program is not designed to lead to federal employment and does not convey preference in seeking such an appointment, nor does it convey the ability to convert non-competitively to a competitive service federal position. For participants seeking a federal appointment, however, the VIP Fellowship experience may improve their ability to compete for such positions.
What is the application process for the 2018-2019 cohort?
Please refer to application process page: http://www.vipfellowship.org/application-process/.
Whom should I contact?
For additional questions, please first check the FAQ and if you still have an inquiry, call 703-516-1695 or email VIPFellowship@state.gov. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for news and updates.