r/foreignservice

The Ethan Allen furniture line is growing on me.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning ahead and had a question about first assignments as an FSO.

I’m a U.S. citizen, and I plan to begin my husband’s family-based immigration process next month (starting with the I-130, followed by consular processing, as he entered the U.S. without inspection). I also intend to apply to become an FSO next year. I know both processes can take quite a while, so this is purely a hypothetical question.

If I successfully make it through the FSO hiring process and receive an offer before my husband has his green card, what happens in that situation? Since he wouldn’t be able to accompany me to an overseas post, is it possible to request a domestic first tour (for example, in Washington, D.C.)? If not, is there any mechanism to defer an overseas assignment or request an exception based on an ongoing spousal immigration case?

I understand that assignments are based on the needs of the Service, and I’m not expecting to choose my first post. I’m simply trying to understand what options, if any, would be available in this type of situation. Ideally, one or two domestic tours would give enough time for his immigration process to be completed.

Has anyone experienced something similar or know how the Department typically handles these situations?

Thank you!

A while back I posted here about two economics instructors resigning from FSI.

For anyone who was interested in that story, Dana Stryk, PhD has now gone live on Substack. Her first video lays out why she left.

She frames it in three buckets.

First, trying to teach economics under an administration doing things that run counter to basic economic fact. At some point you’re stuck trying to figure out how to skip the PhD-level explanation and fake your way around the obvious.

Second, changes at FSI meant she was being pushed more toward teaching policy and spinning the administration’s line, not just teaching economics.

Third, the toxic work environment with her direct chain of command.

That’s why she left.

The reason she’s talking about it now is because, since she resigned, her old office has been doing cheetah flips trying to write its own narrative, one that is counter to fact. They’re trying to make it sound like normal attrition. It wasn’t.

Worth watching if you followed the earlier posts.

The Chuck Kyle Show
https://substack.com/@thechuckkyleshow

For example the consular office in Tahiti, do you fly to Bora Bora every weekend to visit?

Is this a super had destination to get?

I want to become an FSO and then start going to all the islands. I’m an island person myself.

I'm bidding this year and will go to next and final assignment in 2027. Everything on my bid list is a 3 year tour keeping me at post until 2030. All overseas. I will hit 20 years and 55 years old in 2029.

20 years is enough. I don't want to go for 21 years. Is there anything "wrong" with bidding on a 3 year assignment knowing I will retire after 2 years? Will I need a reason to curtail after 2 years other than I want to retire?

Projecting (fingers crossed) that I’ll receive a DSS class date for January/April 2027, and I’m incredibly excited. DSS has been my number one agency since I first learned about it.

For some background, I’m 28, currently with another federal law enforcement agency, current Army National Guard officer, financially in a good place/no debt, already maxing my Roth TSP, and I don’t have a spouse or kids. One of the biggest reasons DSS appealed to me is the opportunity to live and work overseas.

For those of you already in DSS, knowing what you know now, how would you maximize your career if you were starting over in my position?

I’m looking for things like:

Assignments you wish you had pursued sooner.

Training or opportunities you wish you had volunteered for.

Financial or career decisions that paid off.

Ways to make the most of overseas tours while still young and unattached.

Anything you wish someone had told you before your first day.

I’m not necessarily looking for hiring advice, more interested in hearing what you’d do differently or prioritize if you could start over with the circumstances I’m in.

Domestic supervisor FSO was told to leave their current assignment immediately. Literally pack up and be gone same day. We hear they have to find their own next assignment within 90 days. The questions those of us who are not FSOs are 1. How high did this decision come from? and 2. What would be an example of an offense to warrant this immediate dismissal?

Hello Foreign Service Reddit,

Last week I was about to join this week's orientation, but I got cold feet and decided to decline. I think between the uncertainty and some of the negative reviews I read on reddit about my particular speciality my instincts were telling me not to do it. I had prepared to move and everything, but in the end it was as if I was too scared to quit my current job and move to attend the orientation, so I cancelled everything at the last minute.

My current job I have seen and done everything and there is absolutely no possibility for growth, learning new things and making more money. This Foreign Service job was going to be the beginning of new adventures, new skills, new connections and many good things to come. I passed the difficult exam, interview, clearances and everything, but still somehow chickened out.

Has anyone here declined twice and then successfully passed and got in to the service a second time?

I just got offered a position that is USEFM only and i keep getting conflicting answers. Do EFMs that use the FP scale and are FMA appointments get differential and cola? I am under the impression that the mission is who hired me but the offer letter does say that Washington will decide final grade and step. Anybody know/has been an FMA that knows?

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I am a Family Nurse Practitioner in my mid-40s with nearly 10 years of experience. For years, I have been interested in a medical career with the U.S. State Department, but I have also been considering the Air Force. My wife and I have young children, all 8 years old and under, so family life is a major factor in this decision.

For those who have experience with either organization, which path would you recommend and why? I'm especially interested in hearing about:

Overall family life and the impact on spouses and children

Work-life balance and deployment/travel expectations

Day-to-day working conditions

Job satisfaction and career fulfillment

Opportunities for overseas assignments

Long-term career growth and retirement benefits

Looking back, would you make the same choice again? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I haven’t noticed many posts from beginner language learners asking about the initial test, and I understand there’s an NDA involved. However, as a specialist candidate in the waiting process, I’m contemplating whether it’s worthwhile to take the remote language BEX. I’ve been studying Dutch using online resources and watching Dutch-speaking shows, but I still consider my proficiency to be elementary, which isn’t one of the priority languages. I’m trying to learn on my own, but I still think I’m an i1 on the rating scale at this point.

If I’ve interpreted the document correctly, the differences between generalist and specialist language scores (and any additional points) are only assessed during the second in-person language test, if the candidate passes the initial test.

- Is this an accurate understanding?
- I’m also curious about any potential drawbacks or negative connotations associated with taking the initial test if I don’t feel my proficiency is up to par with i3-level learners.

Thanks in advance for any insights.

Is there any commonality with the tribalism, loose morals, and reckless behavior found in the military or law enforcement?

Asking because I am looking into transitioning from IT to public sector work. I did a few years enlisted in the army and have friends who are cops, and one thing I disliked a lot was the kind of people I was surrounded with and the toxic environment.

I know it will vary, and I know military and LE are not the same as foreign service, but from my experience there seems to be some overlap in the culture with these kinds of fields.

Let’s theoretically say that a spouse or child has a chronic medical condition (such as type 1 diabetes). How would this affect a foreign service career? If anyone has seen or heard any experiences about this please let me know!

Shoot your best examples!

Many of us on the register received an email with an updated Candidate Guide. The language testing seems to have greatly changed. Looks like they don't mention the contract at all, and there is not any mention of different scores needed for harder languages like Arabic or Chinese.

What do you guys think about these changes? Do you think Chinese and Arabic need 3s now? I'm kinda confused.

It looks as if it was meant to stream line most of the document so I'm wondering if they just forgot to mention the different difficulties of different languages.

Hey,

Has anyone who took the CFPT test in May this year heard back yet?

Hello, all. I’m new to the foreign service. I would be interested to hear from those in the Consular cone about their career progression. Specifically, the following:

How long did it take to go from 04 to 03?

Are most consular officers still FP-04s by their third tour?

Are there 04 supervisory positions for 3rd tour officers overseas, or are they still generally on the visa line?

Which posts afford the chance for consular officers to be supervisors by their third tour?

Is AF a good bureau in which to advance a consular career?

I really appreciate any insight you have!