The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is the Federal Government's primary training institution for officers and support personnel of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington. At the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, the FSI provides more than 450 courses -- including some 70 foreign languages -- to more than 50,000 enrollees a year from the State Department and more than 40 other government agencies and the military service branches.
The Institute's programs include training for the professional development of Foreign Service administrative, consular, economic/commercial, political, and public diplomacy officers; for specialists in the fields of information management, office management, security, and medical practitioners and nurses; for Foreign Service Nationals who work at U.S. posts around the world; and for Civil Service employees of the State Department and other agencies. Ranging in length from a half-day to 2 years, courses are designed to promote successful performance in each professional assignment, to ease the adjustment to other countries and cultures, and to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of the U.S. foreign affairs community. Other courses and services help family members prepare for the demands of a mobile lifestyle and living abroad.
FSI Background Info
The Foreign Service Institute is organized like a university and consists of five schools:
Currently, The Transition Center has a presence on this main State Department internet site, but the other schools do not. Therefore, to request a catalog of FSI courses about language, leadership, area studies or information technology, contact the FSI Office of the Registrar, on (703) 302-7144/7137. If you want to view driving or METRO directions to FSI, click here.
If you are interested in a career in the Foreign Service, or want to know more about the training that new officers enjoy, check out the Department's career resource, www.careers.state.gov.
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SF 182 for FSI
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-2007 Clips to Go Entry Form
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-Foreign Service Journal article on Thinking Outside the Box: Reinventing Resources at OBC
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-Clips to Go Contest for the Overseas Briefing Center
-2009 Kid Vid Rules for Foreign Affairs Agency Personnel Family Members
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