AFSA Foreign Agricultural Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Please read these articles "Capital Gains on the Sale of a Principal Residence" and "IRS Helps Military Personnel Get New Law's Tax Breaks"
2. Frequently asked questions about LATERAL ENTRY.
Answer: Applicants must be in a career or career conditional position and have 18 months of service with USDA, of which 12 months must be in a position in FAS, be a GS-11 or above at the time of application, and meet the qualification requirements for the FAS Officer series.
Answer:Applicants for lateral entry must submit the following information in response to a vacancy announcement:
• A resume, or Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) or any other written format such as an application for Federal Employment (SF-171);
• Supplemental Statement addressing the specific evaluation criteria in the announcement;
• Supervisory Appraisal Form;
• Current Performance Appraisal (no more than 15 months old);
• A Narrative Statement;
• Certification of Worldwide Availability
• Other information related to the Vacancy Announcement.
All applicants are screened by a Qualifications Review and Evaluation Panel (QREP) which will prepare a rank-ordered list of applicants it has determined possess the qualifications and abilities required for successful performance as a Foreign Service Officer. This list is presented to the Administrator of FAS, who reviews the list and refers qualified applicants to the Foreign Service Board of Examiners (BEX).
Applicants submitted for further consideration are scheduled for an examination conducted by a panel of three (2 FAS FSO's and one FSO from another Foreign Affairs agency).
Answer: There are 2 sections, a written exam and an oral exam. The process is designed to determine an applicant's competence to perform the work of an FSO, potential growth in the Foreign Service and suitability to serve as a representative of the United States abroad.
Written Exam: The purpose is to determine if the applicant can produce written work which meets the standards of an FSO in the field and to measure the applicant's understanding of one or more facets of the FAS mission and program.
Oral Exam: The purpose is to determine the applicant's knowledge of FAS in general and its programs in particular. It is designed to assess the applicant's skill in oral communication, ability to marshal key facts to present positions and/or arguments on topics related to the work of FAS abroad, and the applicants suitability to serve as a representative of the United States abroad.
Answer: Applicants will be notified of the results of the examination by the Panel Chairperson on the day of the oral examination.
Answer: No. Once an applicant has been recommended by the BEX, s/he will be given a conditional offer to convert to the Foreign Service contingent upon a satisfactory completion of security, medical and suitability reviews.
Answer: An applicant who successfully passes the lateral entry examination process will be offered a five-year limited appointment in the Foreign Service at the FP-04 Class level (GS-12 equivalent), following receipt of medical and security clearances. A candidate below a GS-12 grade will not be converted until promoted to a GS-12 grade. A candidate at a GS-13 or higher grade will be converted at the GS-12 equivalent class.
Answer: An applicant cannot be commissioned as a career FSO until s/he has achieved proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency must be achieved prior to the expiration of a five-year limited appointment. The Commissioning Board normally makes its initial determination regarding a career candidate's commissioning into the Foreign Service after the candidate has spent three years under a limited appointment. A subsequent review for candidates not commissioned on initial review occurs 12 months thereafter. If necessary, the Board will conduct a third review approximately 60 days prior to the expiration of the candidate's limited appointment.
Answer: The Federal Government decides to defend you if you were acting within the scope of your employment or if it is in its best interest. If sued, the Federal Government can choose whether or not to defend you and it will not cover monetary damages if you lose. You also must fend for yourself before any administrative hearings and disciplinary proceedings. AFSA Professional Liability offers this coverage with an A+ rated insurance company at the lowest cost and including coverage for prior acts. In addition, the premium is partially reimbursable. For more information visit http://www.hirshorn.com/AFSA-prof-liability.html or call your AFSA VP.
Answer: The Office of Retirement directly administers the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund ($15 billion) which is the funding vehicle for three retirement plans covering 26,873 current and former Foreign Service employees:
The Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System (FSRDS)
- 1,671 active participants
- 13,051 beneficiaries
The Foreign Service Pension System (FSPS)
- 10,150 active participants
- 2,001 beneficiaries
These retirement plans took in $993 million and paid out $646.6 million in benefits last year to all Foreign Service annuitants in the Departments of State, Agriculture, and Commerce, as well as the U. S. Agency for International Development and the Peace Corps. After processing by RET, payments are made by the Charleston Financial Services Center to four categories of Foreign Service recipients:
Non-Disability Retiree Annuitants (11,139), Disability Retiree Annuitants (223), Survivors (2,743), Former Spouses (565), and Deferred Benefits (382).
Active employees in the new FSPS system are growing at a rate of 6.9% per year. Active employees in the old FSRDS system are shrinking at a rate of 7.7% per year and will close out around 2023. This office also shares responsibility with OPM for administering benefits to Department employees in three retirement plans: the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS: 2,443 active participants and 7,655 annuitants), the CSRS-Offset System, and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS: 5,556 participants and 408 annuitants).
For more information visit http://www.rnet.state.gov/ or contact:
David B. Dlouhy
Administrator, Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund
Director, Office of Retirement
HR/RET
SA-1 H620
2401 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20520
Phone 202-261-8964
e-mail: dlouhydb@state.gov
