When I was asked to write a piece on what Veterans Day means to me, I felt both honored and underqualified. There are so many wonderful veterans in the anti-money laundering (AML) community who have dedicated themselves to protecting our nation in ways that continue well beyond their military service. I am thrilled to share my journey from a Special Operations Force (SOF) intelligence analyst at an East Coast SEAL Team, to the cryptocurrency AML sector with TRM Labs. My hope is to equip readers with a better understanding of the process to become a beneficiary of the Department of Defense (DOD) programs designed to place unconventional yet well-qualified vets into the roles your firms seek to fill.
My Journey From SOF Intel to the Crypto AML Sector
Growing up in a small town in rural Florida, respecting and honoring veterans was ingrained early on in our DNA. When my father would pass by a Vietnam combat vet, he looked them dead in the eyes and said, “Welcome home, Soldier.” It shocked me how often that brought tears to their eyes, as many had not received a warm homecoming after the war. Like many Americans, some of my fondest childhood memories were listening to World War II vets share their stories vividly, as if it happened only yesterday. When 9/11 happened, I was only 12 years old and envious of my older sibling’s friends who decided to serve; that itch never left and only grew as I would attend several of their memorial services in the coming years. I have learned that even for the majority who make it home safely, it is the service member’s family that sacrifices the most. Missed anniversaries, the birth of their children, holidays and kids’ birthday parties add up quickly and are often under-realized until the opportunity has forever escaped.
After graduating college and excelling for several years in the corporate world, I asked myself, “If you could press a reset button and do anything you wanted, what would that be?” At the ripe age of 25, it was not office life (yet). It was time to scratch that old itch, so I pointed all efforts toward becoming a Navy SEAL. I was no collegiate athlete, but 11 long months later, I earned a contract, which provided a slot to compete in the SEAL’s training course in Coronado, California, called the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S). At BUD/S, I had the honor of training alongside many of the most incredibly humble and dedicated Americans I have met to date. I was just a country boy, competing alongside Division 1 athletes, former Olympians and a couple of gold medalists. Each of them declined numerous life-changing opportunities for the sake of serving their country and the American people. If one ever has doubts about the work ethic or resolve of the younger generations, I encourage them to drive down Coronado Island in Southern California and watch for the hundreds of BUD/S trainees running down the beach, day and night, rain or shine.
I never completed training; I am not a SEAL. After two years, four medical rollbacks (restarts), and four BUD/S classes later, I was redirected to the intelligence route and graciously offered a position as an intelligence analyst within a Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Team. Similar to an AML professional, military intelligence analysts study the adversary well enough to predict their next move before it occurs and inform their team of risk levels associated with each potential adversarial move. Early in my economics study at the University of Florida, I began to recognize the criticality of capital flows for nation-states and non-state transregional organizations as the lifeblood of almost all organizations, so as an intel analyst, I leaned into the counter-threat finance realm to help map adversarial organizations.
Beginning in 2018, Bitcoin and cryptocurrency captivated my interest economically and intrigued me as an intelligence analyst. A core strength of the Special Operations community is adaptability and innovation via rapid iteration. As a result, individuals are encouraged to become subject-matter experts in emerging fields toward which they naturally gravitate. Given my thesis that cryptocurrency would change the way illicit actors and nation-states transfer value globally, I sought every finance course offered. As a targeter, it is critical to utilize multiple sources of intelligence for corroboration, and I sensed blockchain intelligence was far underutilized when deciphering critical financial nodes within a network’s operation. I could hardly sleep thinking about the implications of real-time, on-chain blockchain data and the risks or opportunities that would generate for the national security space. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my role directly supporting the mission, for the first time, I sensed I could be most disruptive to adversaries by leaning into blockchain intelligence full time and sharing what I learned across the defense space.
Even for someone with degrees and former corporate experience, the decision to exit the military was stressful at times. Thankfully, there are programs such as the DOD SkillBridge program and U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Warrior Care Program that partner with forward-leaning companies looking to support, train and potentially hire transitioning service members with desirable core skills. In 2021, I made the decision to find and apply to whichever blockchain intelligence company most resembled the agility, speed and resolve I was accustomed to in the SOF culture. Once I met the team at TRM Labs, the choice was clear. An innovative Silicon Valley startup with a team of about 70 who had already made incredible strides in outpacing criminals in the blockchain space to help build a safer financial system. TRM and I were both pleasantly surprised at the cultural parallels between the SOF culture and an ambitious emerging tech startup.
The TRM team has grown about four times in size since I began SkillBridge in 2022, but the startup culture remains. As a blockchain intelligence company supporting the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, financial institutions (FIs), law enforcement agencies and national defense partners, I am rewarded daily by engaging with the brightest minds across the counter-threat finance and AML communities. I am still able to contribute to the mission and support thousands of warfighters in the field of which I am most excited. Most veterans crave a career path that enables them to continue to serve their community and country; most companies can provide exactly that once the greater picture is conveyed and the vet visualizes how their impact is enabling a greater outcome.
Why the AML Sector Should Seek to Hire Veterans
Commissioned officers are a natural fit and a well-known choice for private sector leadership roles; however, I would like to bring to your attention five lesser-known, noncommissioned officer specialties that represent thousands of service members who practice AML desirable skillsets. The specialties are known as a “Rate” (Navy), military occupational specialty (MOS) (Army & Marine Corps) or Air Force Specialty Code (Air Force).
Intelligence Analyst (MOS 35F - Army, 1N0X1 - Air Force, 0231 - Marine Corps) or Intelligence Specialist - Navy
Intelligence specialists gather, analyze and interpret data to identify threats and offer strategic insights. They prepare reports and briefings on named risks, aiding in mission planning and threat response. Their ability to analyze vast amounts of data, recognize patterns and interpret complex information translates directly to AML work, where detecting suspicious transactions and risk trends is critical. Their strong analytical and investigative skills make them adept at uncovering financial crime schemes.
Cyber Operations Specialist (MOS 17C - Army, 1B4X1 - Air Force, 0689 - Marine Corps) or Cryptologic Technician Networks - Navy
Cyber specialists focus on securing networks, finding vulnerabilities and responding to cyber threats. They perform digital forensics and cyber threat assessments, protecting military infrastructure from breaches. Their experience in cybersecurity and knowledge of digital forensics are invaluable for AML roles that require monitoring for cyber-related financial threats. Their skills in detecting network anomalies and vulnerabilities make them adept at identifying and mitigating risks associated with digital finance.
Criminal Investigations Special Agent (MOS 31D - Army, 7S0X1 - Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 5821 - Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division) or Master-at-Arms - Navy
These professionals investigate criminal activity, enforce military regulations and handle cases involving fraud and financial misconduct. They conduct interviews, gather evidence and develop cases against potential threats. Their background in investigations, evidence handling and understanding of legal protocols aligns well with AML responsibilities. They are skilled at managing complex investigations, tracking fraudulent patterns and understanding compliance requirements, all of which are essential for tracking money laundering activities.
Financial Management Technician (MOS 36B - Army, 6F0X1 - Air Force, 3451 - Marine Corps) or Logistics Specialist - Navy
Financial management and logistics specialists handle budgeting, procurement and financial record keeping within their branches. They ensure accurate financial tracking, maintain audit trails and manage resource allocation. Their strong foundation in finance, accounting and compliance with financial regulations directly benefits AML roles. Their skills in auditing, maintaining financial integrity and tracking financial transactions make them valuable in preventing financial fraud.
Signals Intelligence Analyst (MOS 35N - Army, 1N2X1 - Air Force, 2621 - Marine Corps) or Cryptologic Technician Collection - Navy
Signals intelligence specialists monitor, intercept and analyze electronic communications. They identify patterns, decode messages and provide insights on adversarial communications. Their expertise in data analysis, pattern recognition and surveillance of communication networks is highly applicable to AML. They can leverage these skills to monitor and analyze transaction data, identify unusual patterns and detect potential money laundering networks.
Ways to Get Involved
The DOD SkillBridge program is the easiest way to become an industry partner. It allows service members to gain work experience through internships, apprenticeships and other civilian career training during their last 180 days of military service. For companies, becoming an industry partner with SkillBridge means they can offer hands-on training and exposure to transitioning service members at no cost to the company, as participants remain on active duty and continue to receive their military pay and benefits. This partnership provides companies with a pipeline of trained, disciplined professionals ready to step into civilian roles. As SkillBridge is open to all, including officers and senior enlisted, it gives companies an opportunity to bring in mid-career professionals with many years of work experience. SkillBridge is ideal for larger companies that have the onboarding infrastructure or bandwidth to assist vets in adjusting their skills to match your company’s specific requirements.1
For companies interested in supporting SOF veterans who have endured an injury while serving in the SOF community I would recommend looking into the USSOCOM Warrior Care Program.2 Similar to SkillBridge, service members can work as an apprentice or intern for up to their last 180 days of active-duty service. The benefits of this program include more flexibility in matching the service members’ desired career path to the ideal company, despite the company size or previous involvement in DOD programs. The limiting factor is the number of candidates per year who are entitled to use this program is a fraction of that of the DOD-wide SkillBridge.3
Veterans can be an asset for FIs as they bring transferable skill sets from the public sector to the private sector. As we reflect this Veterans Day on the many sacrifices by veterans and their families across the globe, it is important to note, for FIs, that veterans are another group of professionals that can add to your growing talent pool in the fight against financial crime. Together, we can strive to end financial crime.
Kyle Helseth, Strategic account director, TRM Labs, Virginia, USA, 
- To sign up, visit: Industry Partners, SkillBridge, skillbridge.osd.mil/industry-employers.htm
- To offer your company as an industry host, send an email to: careertransitionWCP@socom.mil with ATTN: Chief of Career Transition in your subject line.
- For more information, visit: Care Coalition, United States Special Operations Command, socom.mil/care-coalition/
