The US Department of State’s US Foreign Service Internship Program is now accepting applications for its 2019-2020 cohort! For a full overview of the program, see: https://careers.state.gov/usfsip/. Apply at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/509592700 by September 11.
Summary
Established in 2014, the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP) is a merit and need-based opportunity that offers two paid summer internships that expose undergraduate students to U.S. diplomacy and the Department of State at large. The program is both professionally and academically beneficial as it provides writing training, diplomatic history, and hands-on experience to the daily operations of U.S. foreign policy.
Responsibilities
USFSIP consists of participation for two consecutive summers. In the first summer (2019), participants come to Washington, D.C. for three weeks of training including: U.S. diplomatic history, Department writing, and professional development. Following the training, interns work for seven weeks on policy desks in regional and functional bureaus at State. The second summer (2020) is a ten week assignment to a U.S. embassy overseas. In the intervening year, USFSIP interns must maintain at least a 3.2 GPA and take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) to gain a better understanding of the Foreign Service assessment process.
Specific duties and responsibilities will vary according to the domestic office or overseas post of assignment.
Previous Department of State interns have summarized embassy reporting on current developments, written reports on human rights issues, drafted briefing papers for foreign policy meetings, helped review and vet proposed assistance projects and recipients, researched economic and environmental issues, monitored and evaluated media reporting, supported educational and cultural exchange activities and worked on web pages and electronic journals.
You may reach out to our local Diplomat-in-Residence, Ms. Vallera Gibson to discuss your interest in this opportunity. Her contact information is below.
Vallera Gibson | Diplomat in Residence – South (GA, TN, AL)
U.S. Department of State | GibsonVM@state.gov
