United States Foreign Service

The United States Foreign Service, a personnel system within the Diplomatic Service, helps represent America to the world. Members of the Foreign Service serve at any of the 265 American Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions around the world, as well as Washington DC. They represent America abroad by implementing the foreign policy of the United States and by directly aiding US citizens.

Foreign Service Employees and What They Do

Foreign Service members represent America; analyze and report on political, economic, and social trends in the host country; and respond to the needs of American citizens abroad. They are part of the Diplomatic Service and serve in Washington, DC and at nearly 265 U.S. embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions around the world. Members of the Foreign Service include Foreign Service Officers, Foreign Service Specialists, and Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs).

Related Topics:
Diplomatic Service - Washington, DC - Embassies - Consulate - Diplomatic mission

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Foreign Service Officers - also called Generalists - implement and carry out the foreign policy of the United States. Foreign Service Officers are divided into "cones" representing their career focus. The cones are Management, Consular, Public Diplomacy, Political and Economic. While Generalists have only one cone, most will serve in positions across several different cones throughout their career. All Foreign Service Offices, for example, are required to serve at least one year in a Consular position.

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Foreign Service Specialists perform unique services in support of the State Department and its Embassies and Consulates worldwide. Examples of specialists include Information Management (IM), Office Management Specialist (formerly Secretary), Regional Security Officer, and Nurse Practicioner.

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Both Officers and Specialists carry out their duties at in diplomatic missions around the world and domestically at the State Department in Washington DC as well as other locations.

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Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) are host-country citizens hired abroad to perform support tasks at overseas Embassies and Consulates. FSNs benefit the Foreign Service in several ways. They provide unique local-country knowledge and language skills to the Embassy. They also provide continuity, as FSNs usually spend their entire career at one embassy, while Foreign Service Officers and Specialists rotate postings every 2-4 years. FSNs do not have access to classified information.

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