The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2005

J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 17 F O C U S O N F S I / F S T R A I N I N G FSI S ETTLES I NTO A RLINGTON H ALL n celebrating the October 1993 opening of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center at Arlington Hall, FSI’s new home, the Foreign Service Journal recalled the brief history of diplomatic training. Until the early 20th century, it noted, new consuls went abroad with no other advice than to “take snuff often and slow- ly, sit with your back to the light, speak the truth, and the rest you will learn by observing your colleagues.” In fact, the first “school for diplomats” did not open until 1909 — more than a century after the founding of the Department of State. There, according to the New York Times , “Young men who would be ambassadors [had] nothing I T HE F OREIGN S ERVICE I NSTITUTE IS CHARGED WITH PROVIDING FORMAL INSTRUCTION TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AGENCIES . H OW WELL IS IT DOING ? B Y S TEVEN A LAN H ONLEY Kevin Rechin