Are American Foreign Service Officers Adequate?

Abstract

The Foreign Service Institute was organized in 1946 to train Foreign Service officers so that they will be able to carry out foreign policy more effectively. One of the recog nized deficiencies in the Foreign Service, the insufficient knowl edge of foreign languages, has received much attention at the Institute. Because of the accelerated language program, the language competency of the officers has increased very consid erably. In addition, the testing for language ability is now formalized and all persons who come through the Institute are given an examination. Officers receive training at various times in their career. The structure of the Institute's train ing program is in the form of a pyramid: Training is given at the base to all officers entering the Service; at the mid-point to about one third of the mid-career officers; and at the top to a few senior officers. The success of the training program and the future of the Institute depend largely on the support of the various agencies of the government, the President, the Congress, and the general public. Great strides have indeed been made in the training wing of the State Department. Con tinued efforts by the Institute as well as greater external sup port will increase the professional capacity needed to carry out our foreign policy.—Ed.