Sec. 404. Lateral entry into the Foreign Service
411 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/s/1635/eah/section-404A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that the Foreign Service should permit mid-career entry into the Foreign Service for qualified individuals who are willing to bring their outstanding talents and experiences to the work of the Foreign Service. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a 3-year pilot program for lateral entry into the Foreign Service that— targets mid-career individuals from the civil service and private sector who have skills and experience that would be extremely valuable to the Foreign Service; is in full comportment with current Foreign Service intake procedures, including the requirement to pass the Foreign Service exam; offers participants in such pilot program placement in the Foreign Service at a grade level higher than FS–4 if such placement is warranted by the education and qualifying experience of such individuals; requires only one directed assignment in a position appropriate to such pilot program participant’s grade level; includes, as part of the required initial training, a class or module that specifically prepares participants in such pilot program for life in the Foreign Service, including conveying to such participants essential elements of the practical knowledge that is normally acquired during a Foreign Service officer’s initial assignments; and includes an annual assessment of the progress of such pilot program by a review board consisting of Department officials with appropriate expertise, including employees of the Foreign Service, in order to evaluate such pilot program’s success.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes the following: The cumulative number of accepted and unaccepted applicants to such pilot program. The cumulative number of pilot program participants placed into each Foreign Service cone. The grade level at which each pilot program participant entered the Foreign Service.
Information about the first assignment to which each pilot program participant was directed. The structure and operation of such pilot program, including— the operation of such pilot program to date; and any observations and lessons learned about such pilot program that the Secretary considers relevant. The Secretary shall— collect and maintain data on the career progression of each pilot program participant for the length of each participant’s Foreign Service career; and make the data described in paragraph
(1)available to the appropriate congressional committees upon request.