The Foreign Service Journal, May 2003

mitting to a career in the Foreign Service. Hiring from Within Perhaps the most significant dif- ference between the Foreign Agricultural Service and most other Foreign Service agencies is the fact that we actually select our FS offi- cers from within our own ranks. This is done through a unique process, called Lateral Entry, which generally takes approximately one year to com- plete, from application to overseas assignment. (In fact, this is how I entered the Foreign Service 15 years ago.) To apply, an FAS employee must be in a career or career-conditional position, have worked 18 months in the Department of Agriculture (of which 12 months must have been in FAS), and be at the GS-11 grade or above at the time of application. Each FS candidate must com- plete an extensive application, including written accomplishments in specified areas. Each application is reviewed by the FAS Quali- fications Review and Evaluation Panel. This panel is comprised of five FS officers, ranging in rank from junior to Senior Foreign Service officers, of whom one is from outside the Foreign Agricul- tural Service. The QREP ranks all the applicants and recommends the top qualifiers to the FS Board of Examiners. The Board of Examiners administers two exams, one written and one oral, and based on the results, selects the most qualified candidates for the Foreign Service. Each year, approximately 10 to 15 FAS Civil Service employees apply for the Foreign Service and, on aver- age, about half successfully complete the process. Successful candidates are offered a three-year, career- F O C U S 34 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A Y 2 0 0 3 Though the FAS portfolio varies greatly from post to post, all but a few offices concentrate on export promotion. MCG FINANCIAL PLANNING Former State Department Employee Stationed Overseas Understands Unique Financial Situation of Foreign Service Services Include: Retirement Planning Tax Preparation and Strategies Analysis: Insurance and Investments Lump Sum Retirement Options MARY CORNELIA GINN 4630 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 220 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Phone: (301) 951-9160 Fax: (703) 938-2278 E-mail: mcgfin@erols.com S ECURITIESOFFEREDTHROUGH N ATHAN & L EWIS S ECURITIES , I NC ., M EMBER NASD & SIPC. MCG F INANCIAL P LANNING AND N ATHAN & L EWISARE NOT AFFILIATED ENTITIES .