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Members of the Foreign Service are selected through a series of written and oral examinations. They serve at any of the United States diplomatic missions around the world, including embassies, consulates, and other facilities.
- Your Decision! The Pros and Cons.
- Worldwide Availability
- Relocation Every 1-3 Years
- Salary
- Hardship and Danger Posts
- Representing The U.S.
- Other Considerations
- Just A Start
When I first wrote this draft, it started much differently. The original intent was to break down the pros and cons of joining the Service into separate posts. But as I was typing away and considering the options, it didn’t feel right to divide the information. It was a disservice. So instead, I’ve combined them below. What follows are essential as...
This should go without saying, but if you want to join the Foreign Service, then you do so with full knowledge that you are going to be living overseas. Furthermore, you agree with Uncle Sam to go wherever he tells you. This is not to say consideration to your preferences are not made, they very much are! Every Officer is given the opportunity to b...
With the Foreign Service, you have the opportunity to live in many different parts of the world. Much more than “skimming the surface”, as the typical tourist would do, you have the chance (if you want to, and you should) to immerse yourself in the people, culture, environment, politics, and nuances of a post. Time is on your side to both go to rem...
Pay is brought up consistently as both a benefit and a deterrent for joining the Service. Whether you are a solo Officer, with a partner, or have dependents, the salary question affects you differently. As an aside, how much does a Foreign Service Officer make is a question that I get asked a lot, which is why there is an extensive post that breaks...
A part of worldwide availability and consistently moving is that you will most likely be stationed at a mission categorized as hardship or dangerous. Considering these two together, you have a spectrum of possibility. Designation may be assigned because you live in an unhealthy environment (e.g., air pollution is abysmal) and/or you live in a confl...
You represent the U.S. as a diplomat overseas; this means you are on the “clock” 24/7. Recall, this is not just a career. This is a lifestyle. Your actions outside of the embassy, as you interact with the people of the country, are just as, if not, more important. In some regards, there are higher expectations for you and the behavior you must upho...
Language You receive training for the language required for your next station. For some, this is easy, for others this is not. Away from Extended Family and Friends Time zones add up. The farther you are from the U.S., the harder it is to keep connected. Furthermore, you may not be able to go to special celebrations, such as weddings and birthdays,...
There are MANY more considerations that you have to review for yourself and your family. But the above is an excellent place to start, and a helpful way to determine what your pros and cons are. Good luck!
A Foreign Service officer (FSO) is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. FSOs formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. They spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions, though some receive assignments to serve at combatant commands ...
Foreign service, the field force of a foreign office, comprising diplomatic and consular personnel engaged in representing the home government’s interests abroad and providing the necessary information on which foreign policy is based. There is a marked similarity in the foreign service.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Foreign Service is in 276 posts abroad, and FS members spend, on average, two-thirds of their careers overseas. The latest personnel numbers show that the Foreign Service as a whole, counting all agencies, stands at approximately 15,600 members.
Foreign Service Officer - Careers. Influence U.S. Foreign Policy in a Career Representing America The mission of a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad.
Jun 29, 2020 · Known for being one of the oldest and most widely recognized specializations within foreign service, officers within the consular cone hold a slew of public-facing responsibilities that citizens most often associate with foreign support.
