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| == Joining the Foreign Service == | == Joining the Foreign Service == | ||
| For the past fifty years, '''Foreign Service Officer''' candidates had to take an all-day written exam. Those who passed were invited to appear for an oral assessment which is an exercise in one’s ability to use general persuasion and interpersonal skills. Beginning in summer 2007, the all-day written exam is to be shortened and information on a structured ] is to be also considered in selecting candidates for the oral assessment. Those few individuals who pass the Foreign Service Written Exam (approximately 10%)<ref>http://careers.state.gov/officer/faqs.html</ref> must undergo an Oral Assessment administered in person either in ] or a number of other cities throughout the ]. Passage rates for the Oral Assessment are |
For the past fifty years, '''Foreign Service Officer''' candidates had to take an all-day written exam. Those who passed were invited to appear for an oral assessment which is an exercise in one’s ability to use general persuasion and interpersonal skills. Beginning in summer 2007, the all-day written exam is to be shortened and information on a structured ] is to be also considered in selecting candidates for the oral assessment. Those few individuals who pass the Foreign Service Written Exam (approximately 10%)<ref>http://careers.state.gov/officer/faqs.html</ref> must undergo an Oral Assessment administered in person either in ] or a number of other cities throughout the ]. Passage rates for the Oral Assessment are were 20% in 2006. The result is that with nearly 25,000 initial test-takers, only between 300 to 900 are ultimately offered an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer. | ||
| Those persons who receive "the call" to become Foreign Service Officers must take part in a training/orientation course known as the ]. | Those persons who receive "the call" to become Foreign Service Officers must take part in a training/orientation course known as the ]. | ||
Revision as of 07:18, 17 January 2008
The United States Foreign Service is the principal diplomatic arm of the United States government, under the aegis of the Department of State. It was created under the Foreign Service Act to serve as the principal personnel system under which the United States Secretary of State is authorized to assign diplomats abroad. Members of the Foreign Service serve at any of the 265 United States Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions around the world, as well at the State Department's headquarters in the Foggy Bottom section of Washington D.C. They represent the United States abroad by implementing the foreign policy of the United States and by directly aiding its citizens.
History and legislative background
On September 15, 1789, Congress passed an Act creating the Department of State and appointing duties to it, including the keeping of the Great Seal of the United States. Initially the Diplomatic Service—providing ambassadors and ministers to staff embassies overseas—and the Consular Service, which provided consuls to assist United States sailors and promote commerce, developed separately.
Throughout the 19th century, ambassadors (or ministers, as they were known prior to the 1890s) and consuls were appointed by the president, and until 1856, earned no salary. Many had commercial ties to the countries in which they would serve, and were expected to earn a living through private business or by collecting fees. In 1856, Congress provided a salary for consuls serving at certain posts; those who received a salary could not engage in private business, but could continue to collect fees for services performed.
The Rogers Act of 1924 merged the Diplomatic and Consular services into one Foreign Service. A Foreign Service examination was also implemented to recruit the brightest Americans, along with a merit based system of promotions. Since the Rogers Act, about two thirds of U.S. ambassadors have been appointed from within the ranks of the Foreign Service, and the remaining third have been appointed directly by the President of the United States.
The Foreign Service Act of 1980 was the last major legislative reform to the Foreign Service. It enacted danger pay for those diplomats who serve in dangerous and hostile surroundings along with other administrative changes.
Functions of the Foreign Service
The Foreign Service Act defines five categories of personnel, known as "members of the Service".
All members of the FS represent US interests abroad, along with other members of the Diplomatic Service.
These include:
Foreign Service Officers are responsible for the adjudication of visa and passport applications and assistance to U.S. citizens abroad. FSOs are classified into various specialties, including Management, Consular, Public Diplomacy, Political, and Economic.
Foreign Service Specialists perform unique services in support of the State Department worldwide. Examples of specialists include Medical Doctor, Health Practitioner, Technicians, Lawyers, Information Resource Management, Office Management Specialist, and Regional Security Officer (Federal law enforcement employment rules apply for RSO positions which are part of the Diplomatic Security Service).
Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) are host or third-country citizens hired abroad to perform support tasks at embassies and consulates.
Increasingly, diplomats are being hired and assigned under other personnel systems. For example, in addition to FSNs, who are members of the Foreign Service, foreign citizens are hired as "Locally Employed Staff", or LES. In some cases Americans living overseas are employed as "LES".
Foreign affairs agencies
While employees of the Department of State make up the largest portion of the Foreign Service, other U.S. government agencies also use the system for positions that require service abroad, in accordance with the Foreign Service Act. These include the Department of Commerce (Foreign Commercial Service), the Department of Agriculture (Foreign Agricultural Service), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Foreign Service numbers
The total number of Foreign Service members, from all Foreign Service agencies (USAID, the Foreign Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the International Broadcasting Bureau) is about 13,000. The State Department Foreign Service employees number approximately 11,500 people, 6,500 Foreign Service officers and 5,000 Foreign Service specialists. Members from the other Foreign Service agencies number about 1,500.
Joining the Foreign Service
For the past fifty years, Foreign Service Officer candidates had to take an all-day written exam. Those who passed were invited to appear for an oral assessment which is an exercise in one’s ability to use general persuasion and interpersonal skills. Beginning in summer 2007, the all-day written exam is to be shortened and information on a structured resume is to be also considered in selecting candidates for the oral assessment. Those few individuals who pass the Foreign Service Written Exam (approximately 10%) must undergo an Oral Assessment administered in person either in Washington, D.C. or a number of other cities throughout the United States. Passage rates for the Oral Assessment are were 20% in 2006. The result is that with nearly 25,000 initial test-takers, only between 300 to 900 are ultimately offered an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer.
Those persons who receive "the call" to become Foreign Service Officers must take part in a training/orientation course known as the A-100 Class.
Foreign Service Specialist candidates are evaluated by Subject Matter Experts for proven skills and recommended to the Board of Examiners for an oral assessment of those skills. Foreign Service Specialist jobs are grouped into seven major categories: Administration, Construction Engineering, Information Technology, International Information and English Language Programs, Medical and Health, Office Management, and Security.
Both Officers (also called Generalists) and Specialists selected for hire must pass extensive background and medical clearances. All Foreign Service personnel must agree to worldwide availability -- that is, they may be called on to serve anywhere in the world. They also agree to publicly support the policies of the United States Government.
The popularity in joining the Foreign Service has risen in recent years. In the first half of the 20th Century, the public perspective of the Foreign Service was sometimes characterized as a bunch of Cookie Pushers although factual articles of the day were most often stark as to the duties one was expected to perform. In the last decade, college graduates have had a better respect for career opportunities within State, with the Department and the Foreign Service rising to the fourth most popular employer for graduating seniors in 2007.
Foreign Service life
Foreign Service employees are required to serve most of their career overseas. The difficulties and the benefits associated with this are many, especially in relation to family life. Dependent family members often accompany Foreign Service employees overseas. The incidence of divorce among Foreign Service employees is said to be higher than the national average, but reliable statistics regarding this are difficult to find. The children of Foreign Service members (sometimes called Foreign Service Brats), grow up in a unique world, one that separates them, willingly or unwillingly, from their counterparts living continuously in the states. For both employees and their families, the opportunity to see the world, experience foreign cultures firsthand for a prolonged period, and the camaraderie amongst the Foreign Service and expatriate communities in general are considered some of the benefits of Foreign Service life.
Foreign Service career system
The Foreign Service personnel system is part of the Civil Service known as the Excepted Service and certain positions are competitively promoted in a system similar to that of military officers.
References
- http://careers.state.gov/officer/faqs.html
- http://careers.state.gov/specialist/roles/index.html
- Christian Science Monitor, February 1950
- Gerdes, Lindsey (May 11, 2007). "Undergrads' 25 Most Wanted Employers". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
{{cite web}}: Check|authorlink=value (help); External link in|authorlink= - Inside a U.S. Embassy. American Foreign Service Association. 2005. ISBN 0-9649488-2-6.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - http://www.state.gov/careers/
- http://www.opm.gov/feddata/html/paystructure/2004/fedPaySystems.asp
See also
External links
- Foreign Service (U.S. Department of State Careers)
- American Foreign Service Association, a professional association representing Foreign Service employees.
- Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide: online resources and community for U.S. diplomatic families.
- United States Department of Commerce
- TalesMag - interesting postings from US diplomats and other expatriates