From Camouflaged Soldier to Stand-Out MBA Student, Ted Finds Support and a New Path Through Penn State World Campus and the USO

By USO Staff

A new U.S. Army recruit, fresh from basic training, winds his way through the Atlanta airport to head to his first duty station at Fort Lewis, Washington (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord). A USO volunteer spots him in uniform and invites him to the USO Airport Lounge.

“It was an amazing experience,” recalled Ted Bidwell, who is now the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) for the Information Warfare Detachment with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

“They invited me in, gave me a snack and something to drink. As a new private who didn’t make a whole lot of money, that meant a lot.”

From that moment forward, and for nearly 20 years now, the USO has been a reliable resource for Ted during his frequent travels.

“Anytime I traveled, I would look for a USO lounge. The people are just incredible — always friendly, always going above and beyond to make sure you’re comfortable.”

One of Ted’s most vivid experiences with the USO was upon his return from a deployment. In 2010, after 12 months in Afghanistan, his plane touched down stateside. USO staff and volunteers greeted him with applause and cheers as he disembarked.

“There must have been a hundred of them,” Ted recalled. “When you come back, you’re just happy to be back. You don’t really feel special. But, in that moment, seeing so many people waving and welcoming you home and thanking you, it really was a unique and amazing experience. You really felt special in that moment.”

Today, as he looks ahead to his future after the military, Ted is finding another type of support: a path forward with an MBA program through Penn State World Campus, offered online by Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. Find out how Ted has leaned on both the USO and Penn State World Campus in his journey through the military, and beyond.

A Lifelong Call to Serve

As a child, Ted would crawl through his backyard in old Army fatigues, hiding from his mother in the bushes and trees. As a teenager, he was looking for a constructive outlet for his energy and he decided he could find that – in addition to structure and purpose – by joining the military.

“I feel like I was always kind of destined to head down that path,” Ted said.

Joining the U.S. Army in 2005, he was drawn to the many possibilities the branch offered.

“The Army just provided me the most opportunities with all of those diverse jobs,” he said.

What piqued his interest, though, were the sniper teams. He recalls a moment in basic training when the recruits walked toward a training exercise.

“A drill sergeant popped up in his sniper ghillie suit, seemingly out of nowhere. I thought to myself – that is exactly what I want to do.”

Over the next two decades, Ted’s Army career took him through various roles and opportunities, including Special Operations and deployments to Afghanistan and multiple South American countries.

However today, he is preparing for a new role – that of someone in the civilian workforce.

Transitioning to the Civilian Workforce

As Ted prepares for retirement from the military in 2025, he is on a new mission: earning his Master of Business Administration graduate degree from Penn State World Campus, an educational partner of the USO.

By partnering with Penn State World Campus, the USO can also assist service members and military spouses looking to improve their education, financial and employment goals through the USO Transition Program.

The USO Transition Program is geared toward active duty, Reserve and National Guard members, as well as military spouses, and offers professional development services throughout the duration of their military service as well as in preparation for life post-military. This can include everything from training on financial readiness, assisting with educational opportunities, networking, career advice and so much more.

“The USO is partnering with Penn State World Campus to conduct education webinars for individuals transitioning from military service,” said Lisa Elswick, USO vice president of USO Transition Programs. "We are also increasing awareness and connecting service members to other opportunities offered by Penn State World Campus.”

Through partnerships such as these, the USO is able to support the people who serve, and their military families, at more than 250 locations around the globe – people just like Ted.

Working toward his MBA is a strategic decision. He is aiming for a post-military career in project management, and he believes that having both military experience and an MBA from Penn State will open doors.

“Experience is great, but many companies want more than just experience. Having the degree helps push you across the finish line,” Ted said.

Ted thought about attending Penn State for as long as he can remember. As he researched possible online MBA programs, he was enthusiastic about discovering that “U.S. News & World Report” ranked the online MBA Program at Penn State World Campus at #22 and #20 for best online MBA programs for veterans.

Ted explained that Penn State World Campus accommodates his active-duty status exceptionally well — from waiving the application fee for active-duty applicants, to offering flexibility when military responsibilities conflict with academic deadlines. Recently, Ted had to travel internationally for a recruiting event and wasn’t sure how much internet access he’d have. His professors were more than understanding, allowing him to work ahead or adjust deadlines to accommodate his schedule.

As Ted approaches the next stage of his professional life, he is also aware of the cultural transition he’ll face as he moves from the structured life of the military to the more open-ended world of civilian employment. Penn State World Campus’ MBA program, he said, is helping with that transition, especially since many of his classmates are working professionals from outside the military.

“It’s a great way to practice working with people who aren’t in the military and to build relationships in a non-military capacity,” Ted said. “It helps translate what I’ve done in the Army to the civilian world.”

Ted’s advice is simple for military people considering higher education: “Don’t wait. Even if you take just one class at a time, at least you’re one class closer to your goal.”

When transitioning out of the military, he believes that additional education is vital to opening new doors and expanding one’s network — both of which are essential for success in civilian life.

With retirement just around the corner and a scheduled graduation date of December 2025, Ted is optimistic about his future.

Perhaps someday he will describe it the way he described the USO Care Packages he received at a small and remote outpost in Southern Afghanistan: “Amazing. Unexpected. Exactly what I needed.”