What is the Foreign Service

Created in 1924, today’s Foreign Service of the United States has nearly 12,000 U. S. employees who work at over 250 embassies and consulates abroad, as well as in Washington, D. C. Just as a great nation requires a disciplined military for its defense, it also needs a corps of dedicated, trained and experienced foreign affairs professionals to keep the peace and strive for a better world. The Foreign Service is truly “ America’s First Line of Defense” around the globe.

Five foreign affairs agencies carry out the Foreign Service mission. The Department of State, the first Cabinet agency created under the U. S. Constitution, is the agency responsible for representing the United States Government abroad. The Agency for International Development administers foreign economic assistance. The Foreign Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service, promote U.S. economic and agricultural interests abroad, respectively.

The International Broadcasting Bureau oversees the Voice of America in telling America’s story to the world.

The representatives of all agencies, when serving abroad, work under the authority and direction of the American ambassador.

The principal role of the Foreign Service overseas is to promote U.S. objectives through good relations with foreign governments, whenever possible. Diplomats working abroad ensure that political leaders, opinion makers, and host-country citizens understand U.S. policies, particularly on matters that affect bilateral relations, as with neighboring Mexico, or regional relations, as with the countries of East Asia. They also work on issues that affect the entire world, such as nuclear proliferation, immigration, the environment or terrorism.

Equally important, the men and women of the Foreign Service analyze the political, social and economic situations in their assigned countries and report their conclusions and recommendations to the State Department and other agencies in Washington, D. C. International crises find Foreign Service professionals in the thick of negotiating agreements to help end conflicts such as those in the Middle East and Sudan, among others. Foreign Service officers promote trade between the U.S. and foreign countries, helping to find new markets for American goods and services and assisting in developing markets in the United States. They negotiate international agreements on commerce, help American business people make contacts in foreign countries, and provide guidance in understanding local laws and procedures that affect business.

Emphasizing the “service” in Foreign Service are those responsible for renewing passports and providing other appropriate consular assistance to American citizens in foreign countries, including emergency service for those in trouble overseas. They also screen and process the visa and immigration applications for foreign citizens who wish to come to the United States.

At home, Foreign Service officers handle day-to-day foreign affairs issues and develop long-term approaches to our foreign relations. They work closely with the U.S. Congress and foreign embassies in Washington. They coordinate the handling of specific problems with other offices in their agencies, and with other departments, such as Defense and Treasury. Using the information they gather on particular issues, they prepare reports that include recommendations or options for the Secretary of State. Such advice guides the formulation of U. S. foreign policy. Once policy is made, Foreign Service officers are charged with carrying it out.

A Foreign Service career can provide a unique opportunity to represent our country in interesting and often challenging posts around the world, engaging with and learning from people of diverse cultures.

Additional information on the Foreign Service can be found in the following article.