Who is a diplomat?

The Deputy Chief of Mission Virginia Blaser

chats with Karamajong Warriors (State Department
image, Embassy Kampala).

There is a stereotype of the diplomat as a professional in a pin-striped suit, sitting with other
diplomats in formal meeting rooms, negotiating peace, threatening war, or hammering out the terms
of a treaty. While this is part of what diplomats do, since diplomacy is about managing international
relations, it is only a small part of what diplomats do. The great majority of diplomatic activity
involves personal contact with officials and citizens of a host country, getting to know them and their
perspectives while presenting the policies, values, and culture of the United States.

Department of State diplomats have a clear mission -- to carry out the foreign policy of the President
of the United States and to represent the political and economic interests of the United States around
the world. Conducting foreign policy is a complex business. The peace, safety, and prosperity you
enjoy are a direct result of the hard work of many skilled -- and mostly unknown -- professional
diplomats.

Diplomats do discuss bilateral issues between the United States and host countries, seeking
cooperation that foster greater trade opportunities and gain support in international negotiations. But
the perception that diplomats only meet with government officials is false. Most of their work
involves meeting with members and institutions of the business community, NGO, and civil society
as well as the media, academe and the artistic world to create links through common ideals and
actions. While official discussions may bring about a trade agreement, conversations with social and
commercial organizations can lead to assistance and exchange programs to promote, for example,
better health care and the rights of women and minorities, while developing a more vocal and vibrant
press, stronger social action programs, and greater educational and artistic exchanges.

All of these individual and communal meetings and activities create the atmosphere of
understanding and cooperation that is the aim of all diplomacy.

Who else can be a diplomat? Everyone!

While the visible forms of diplomacy are carried out by government professionals, in reality, every
American can practice diplomacy in everyday life..

When businesspeople, teachers, students, scientists, athletes, artists and musicians share work,
performances, ideas, and experiences during visits abroad, they represent their country and thus act
as citizen diplomats. All of these encounters produce subtle moments of diplomacyan exchange of
impressions and information about people and culture through individual contacts.

The Department of State, through a variety of programs, sends many of these citizen diplomats
overseas to teach in schools, conduct research with local scientists, work with local artists and
athletes, and perform alongside local actors, dancers and musicians. Their direct interaction with
people of all ages and cultures sows new seeds for understanding.

And while few of us will ever be named ambassador to a foreign country, every time we travel
abroad or even meet a foreign citizen in the United States, we are citizen diplomats, reflecting and
representing the United States.

Invited by the U.S. diplomatic mission in Ecuador, Dr. Stephen Coon, a renowned specialist in
journalism, visited several Ecuadorian cities to give presentations and seminars on the role of
journalism in the digital age, press freedom and the need to maintain high ethical standards in a
world that demands more news and more quickly.

How do celebrities contribute to diplomacy?

Citizen diplomacy is important, but when it comes from high-profile celebrities, its impact is
magnified many times. The Department of State recognizes this celebrity-effect and uses it to raise
the profile of international concerns and causes.

Through its Sports Diplomacy program, the Department of State builds on a universal interest in
sports to bridge gaps between the U.S. and other countries by appointing sports celebrities to reach
out to the world community.

Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. was named the programs second Special Sports Envoy in
2007 to promote mutual understanding through the growing interest in Americas national pastime,
baseball. In accepting the appointment, Ripken noted,

When you put [these players] out on the baseball field the communication obstacles go
away and everybody communicates in a really nice way. Theres a great interaction between
all the kids all around this country and around the world. And, hopefully, well be able to send
that message, plant a few seeds in different parts of the world and use baseball and sport to
actually cross over cultural lines.

But sports are just one aspect of the broad reach of U.S. Government cultural exchange programs.
Through the American Music Abroad program, the State Department introduces American musicians
of diverse styles from classical to jazz to rock to hip hop -- to a worldwide audience. The
Department of State has invited American actors, artists, poets, and even its most famous chefs to
bring a taste of the United States around the world. U.S. embassies host programs, performances,
and workshops by such individuals to develop relationships, break down cultural barriers, and build

an appreciation for Americas rich artistic heritage among a wide local audience.

Robert "Butch" May, 1968 Olympian and Volleyball Sports Envoy, participates with Zambian school
children at an Embassy-sponsored sports clinic.

However, celebrities who are not officially appointed by the State Department can still act as
diplomats when their work advances U.S. interests. George Clooneys work in helping to call
attention to the crisis in Darfur, a U.S. policy priority, resulted in far more international support than
could have been achieved through official channels. The U.S. embassy in Rome inspired Lady Gaga
to advance her advocacy of LGBT rights by performing at EuroPride Rome in 2011. The efforts of
these celebrity citizen diplomats, along with many others, complement and enhance the State
Departments goal of advancing freedom, democracy, and human rights.

What are the roles of a diplomat?

A public affairs officer addresses Libyan media.
(State Department image, U.S. Embassy Tripoli)

When U.S. diplomats negotiate a treaty, attend a state dinner, or arrange a visa for a traveler to the
United States, they all have the same missionto represent the interests and policies of the United
States. Beyond that, diplomats roles and responsibilities are immensely varied.

An ambassador is the Presidents highest-ranking representative to a specific nation or international

organization abroad. An effective ambassador has to be a strong leadera good manager, a resilient
negotiator, and a respected representative of the United States. A key role of an ambassador is to
coordinate the activities not only of the Foreign Service Officers and staff serving under him, but
also representatives of other U.S. agencies in the country. At some overseas posts, personnel from as
many as 27 federal agencies work in concert with embassy staff.

Foreign Service Officers are professional, trained diplomats who represent American interests
abroad under the direction of the ambassador. All Foreign Service Officers listen to and observe
what is going on in the host country, analyze it, and report to the ambassador and Washington. This
makes U.S. policy more sensitive to the needs of other countries and their people. An embassy
generally houses five types of Foreign Service Officers:

U.S. and South Korean Trade Representatives take part in trade meetings at the U.S. Trade
Representatives offices in Washington. ( AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Economic (or "econ") Officers work with foreign governments to secure internet freedom, fund
scientific advances, protect the environment, or negotiate new trade laws.

Management Officers are action-oriented go-to leaders responsible for all embassy, consulate, or
diplomatic mission operations from real estate to people to budget.

Political Officers keep the ambassador up-to-date on political events and changes occurring in the

country.

An American diplomat in Pakistan participates in Earth Day to raise environmental awareness. (State
Department image, U.S. Embassy Pakistan)

Public Diplomacy Officers build mutual understanding and support for U.S. policies by reaching
directly to publics in foreign countries working with traditional and social media; websites;
educational, cultural and sports programs; and all manner of people-to-people exchange."

Consular Officers primary job is assisting and protecting American citizens abroad. If you lose
your passport, find yourself in trouble with the law, or want to get married to a foreigner overseas,
youll need the help of this officer. Consular officers also issue visas to non-U.S. citizens who wish
to travel, work, study, or live in the United States.

Quote
[The qualities of a diplomat are] sleepless tact, unmovable calmness, and a patience that no folly, no
provocation, no blunders may shake.
Benjamin Franklin
Why do diplomats give gifts?
Former U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman, left, and Zhejiang
Provincial Governor Lu Zushan, right, exchange
gifts during a meeting. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

At the U.S. Department of State , diplomatic gifts come in all shapes and sizes from woven straw
baskets to precious gems. In ancient civilizations on every continent, dignitaries and leaders
exchanged gifts to welcome, honor and cultivate beneficial diplomatic relationships. Many of the
gifts shown here (and in the U.S. Diplomacy Centers collection) embody symbols of esteem and
welcome for our Secretaries of State while traveling abroad or receiving visitors. Gift exchanges
take place in the ceremonial climate of toasts, banquets, speeches and formal greetings.

A gift of state often captures the essence of a nation, chosen for its ability to exhibit pride in a unique
culture and people. Gifts of state may showcase traditions of fine or folk arts, crafts or
craftsmanship. They may display wealth in precious stones or metals, fine textiles and apparel. Gifts
may draw from a rich heritage of antiques and antiquities or an expressive storehouse of cultural
icons. This way the gift becomes more than a mere formality, but a reminder of the special alliance
between the gift giver and receiver.

Presidents, First Ladies, U.S. Secretaries of State and other U.S. leaders give a wide range of gifts
including jewelry, fine books about the U.S., ornamental objects or engraved silver trays. A
Secretary may choose a gift that contains a personal message. Secretary Condoleezza Rice, for
example, gave away small porcelain boxes with a portrait of Sojourner Truth, the great 19th century
African-American female abolitionist and suffragette. If there is an especially close relationship, the
U.S. may provide a one-of-a kind gift based on a foreign dignitarys interests. The Protocol Office at
the U.S. Department of State identifies and wraps gifts for the President and Secretary of State to
exchange.

Quote
For so many centuries, the exchange of gifts has held us together. It has made it possible to bridge
the abyss where language struggles.
Barry Lopez

How do you become a diplomat?

A qualifying test is the first step to entering the
Department of States diplomatic corps.
( AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)

Diplomats come from many different backgrounds, yet they all work to advance American interests
abroad. They serve in countless roles: from economists and health care specialists to translators and
administrative assistants.

Most diplomats are Foreign Service Officers (FSO). Every FSO must pass the Foreign Service Exam
which consists of a written exam, an oral interview, and a negotiating exercise. If you pass the
grueling exams and a medical checkup and receive a security clearance, you may finally be asked to
join the distinguished ranks of the Foreign Service. The Foreign Service is more selective than
Harvard University.

If you make it into the Foreign Service, the next stop is the Department of States National Foreign
Affairs Training Center for A-100, a ten-week introduction to the Department of State and work as a
Foreign Service Officer. You will probably also spend time at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to
take foreign languages classes in preparation for traveling to your new posting. There may also be
classes on the history and culture of the region, specific diplomatic functions or skills, and important
issues on human rights.

Every year, FSOs bid on jobs across the globe. Officers submit their preferences from a list of
available jobs in countries around the world, then wait to hear where they will be stationed and what
they will be doing. Often, newer officers must prove their dedication by accepting postings in
dangerous countries or places with few of the comforts of home.

Keeping up with current events around the world is important for any aspiring Foreign Service
Officer.
( AP Photo/Robert Tong)

Keeping up with current events around the world is important for any aspiring Foreign Service
Officer. To be successful, youll need to listen well, analyze, problem-solve, and learn how to apply
these skills in foreign cultures. Depending on your responsibilities, you might need specialized
knowledge. If your job is promoting international trade, for example, youll need to learn about a
countrys economy, business practices, and banking system. Youll also need to learn the etiquette
and customs of your host country and be polite, tactful, and patient.

Quote
The Foreign Service is a career like no other. It is much more than a job; it is a uniquely demanding
and rewarding way of life.
John K. Naland, Inside a U.S. Embassy

Does the Department of State reflect America's

diversity?
Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage
Month 2012 (State Department Picture)

The make-up of the 21st Century State Department mirrors the face of a changing America.

"In order to represent the United States to the world, the Department of State must have a
workforce that reflects the rich composition of its citizenry. The skills, knowledge,
perspectives, ideas, and experiences of all of its employees contribute to the vitality and
success of the global mission"

Former Secretary of State John Kerry

As the demographic composition of the United States has changed over the last 50 years, the State
Department has worked hard to keep pace. Former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleeza
Rice, both of whom are African-American, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, all made it
a top priority that the State Department should reflect the diversity of the American people.

Embracing the diversity of the United States is far more than a matter of social justice; it allows for a
wide range of ideas and perspectives to find creative solutions. The new, more diverse generation of
American diplomats is culturally aware, adaptable, well-rounded, and agile. They are problem-
solvers who can effectively reach out to people of other nations in pursuit of American interests.

So today, the image of U.S. diplomat is no longer a white man in a pin-striped suit. Americas
diplomats are now as likely to be female as male and reflect the broad range of immigration that has
created modern America. While most Foreign Service officers grew up speaking English as they
assimilated into schools and society, their parents may well have spoken Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian
or something else. The diversity they represent in our embassies reflects their heritage and their
American stories as well as the dynamic diversity of the United States and the Department of State.

The Department of States employees more closely reflect the ethnic mosaic of the United States
than ever before and that will continue to change with the country. More than 25% of the
Departments civil servants are African American, as are 5.4% of Foreign Service Generalists and 9
percent of Specialists. Asians now make up 6.3%of the Civil Service, 6.7% of Foreign Service
Generalists and 6.4% of Specialists. Hispanics comprise more than 7% of Foreign Service
Specialists and 5% of Foreign Service Generalists and civil servants.

Rakesh Kochhar, Ruth Gaviria, and Lucia Ballas-Traynor briefing at the New York Foreign Press
Center on "The Growing U.S. Hispanic Population: Impact on the U.S. Economy and Business."
(State Department Photo)

To recruit the best and brightest from all backgrounds, geographic regions, academic majors, and
ethnic groups, the State Department participates in diversity fairs; it offers a graduate foreign affairs
fellowship program aimed at women and minority students; and it partners with employee
organizations such as the Asian Pacific American Foreign Affairs Council, Blacks In Government;
Disability in Foreign Affairs Agencies, to name a few.

Quote

Our commitment to inclusion must be evident in the face we present to the world and in the
decision-making processes that represent our diplomatic goals. "
Secretary John Kerry

What is a U.S. Embassy?

Inside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
( Elizabeth Gill Lui)

Originally , an embassy referred to an ambassador and staff who were sent to represent and advance
the interests of their country with another countrys government,

Today, an embassy is the nerve center for a country's diplomatic affairs within the borders of another
nation, serving as the headquarters of the chief of mission, staff and other agencies. An embassy is
usually located in the capital city of a foreign nation; there may also be consulates located in
provincial or regional cities.

U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, as well as foreign embassies and consulates in the United
States, have a special status. While diplomatic spaces remain the territory of the host state, an
embassy or consulate represents a sovereign state. International rules do not allow representatives of
the host country to enter an embassy without permission --even to put out a fire -- and designate an
attack on an embassy as an attack on the country it represents.

Within the embassy, the ambassador is supported by a deputy chief of mission, Foreign Service
Officers and Specialists who perform the full range of mission activities, and representatives of
many other U.S. agencies, such as USAID and the Departments of Defense, Commerce, Justice and
Agriculture among others. The staffs of all of these agencies report to the ambassador.

Consulates, headed by a Consul General who reports to the Ambassador, carry out many of the same
functions in provincial or regional capitals that the embassies do in national capitals.

Besides the more obvious functions of issuing visas and assisting American citizens abroad,
Embassy and consulate staff interact with host governments, local business and nongovernmental
organizations, the media and educational institutions, and private citizens to create positive
responses to U.S. policy and the U.S. in general. Mission staff report on political and economic
issues that affect bilateral relations and possibly impact the U.S. directly, help U.S. businesses to find
partners and customers, and sponsor American scientists, scholars, and artists to promote
professional, educational and cultural exchanges.

Since American officers normally are only assigned to a foreign country for a few years, it is
necessary to hire citizens from the host country to fill jobs at both embassies and consulates. These
foreign employees are essential to the success of an embassys mission, both for their professional
skills and for the institutional memory they provide for new officers. They used to be known as
Foreign Service Nationals, but are now officially called Locally Employed Staff and may include
U.S. citizens who are long-time residents of the country.

Inside the U.S. Ambassador's residence Bangkok, Thailand. ( Elizabeth Gill Lui)

The main embassy building, known as the chancery, is often complemented by other buildings, that
may house the consular section, an information resource center, or a conference hall, as well as the
offices of other agencies. The ambassadors residence, which is used for many diplomatic and
public functions, is sometimes located on the embassy compound but more often elsewhere in the
city. As the public face of the United States of America in the host country, the chancery is usually
architecturally impressiveeither a historic building or a striking newer structure.

Quote
Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners,
and necessity has made us allies.
John F. Kennedy

How does the Department of State assist with

the Olympics?
Three Diplomatic Security (DS) Special Agents
discuss security arrangements inside Thunderbird
Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, site of the
2010 Winter Olympic Games. DS has been involved
in security for Olympic Games for more than two
decades, and has been the U.S. Government's
security coordinator for every Olympics since 2004.
(U.S. Department of State Photo)

With the approach of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil, Americans and sports lovers
worldwide are beginning to prepare for the games. Whether theyll travel abroad or watch the Games
on television at home, the Olympic Games are a time of national pride for everyone. What many
people may not know is that the U.S. Department of State plays a very important role in ensuring
Americans security during both the winter and summer games.

Preparations for the winter and summer games begins years ahead of the opening ceremonies. The
State Departments International Security Events Group (ISEG), which is a cross department
planning group, is responsible for the Departments role within the games. It also coordinates
additional offers of support from other agencies such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC),
Department of Defense (DoD), Homeland Security, among others.

As the opening of the games approaches, the U.S. Embassy within the host country (in this case
Brazil) broadens the consular services it provides. Several additional Foreign Service Officers are
usually deployed to the host city (such as Rio) if there is not a consulate present. FSO Rachel
Grancio was deputized to provide consular services at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver,
Canada. She blogged from the site:

My team and I are here to be Johnny-on-the-Spot in case a local American needs consular
services. This is definitely one of those times when I'm torn between wanting to be really
busy -- because that would be interesting -- and also hoping that I'm bored to tears -- because
busy means that an American has lost his or her passport, or been arrested, hospitalized, or
encountered another emergency. In fact, with in my first 24 hours of arriving at Whistler[a
satellite city to Vancouver] I participated in a Crisis Management Exercise to better prepare for
just those types of potential events.

As I submit this blog my team and I are heading out to tour the local police station, clinics, the
concierge desks at large hotels, U.S.A. House and other venues where Americans might
congregate or seek information. We'll be letting everyone know that we are here, what services
we provide and hand out flyers with the numbers where we can be reached 24/7.

Other duties for State Department employees often include ensuring that the American delegation
and VIPs are properly credentialed and are able to safely travel around the Olympic compounds. The
2014 Games in Sochi marked the first games in over a decade that a sitting President or his spouse
has not traveled to the games. When the President or his spouse attends a major international event
like this, the hosting embassy works with the Secret Service to ensure their safety.

During the games, the State Department in Washington DC., prepares statements and travel warnings
to anyone traveling abroad. These travel warning provide relevant and important information that
American citizens might need to know. The points can range from the health quality of the air,
regional instability, to local laws which are vastly different from what an American could expect
here in the United States. In the event of a major incident, the Department springs into action to
make sure American citizens are quickly and safely evacuated to safer locations.

A DS special agent (rear right, dark glasses) keeps watch over U.S. Olympian and gold medalist
Lindsey Vonn (white jacket) at the Winter Olympic skiing venue in Whistler, Canada, February 18,
2010. DS coordinated with Canadian security authorities to ensure the safety of U.S. athletes,
spectators, and sponsors during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. (U.S. Department
of State Photo)

When the United States is the host country, such as the 2002 Summer Games in Salt Lake City the
Department of State works to process the visa applications of visitors from around the world. This
would include the athletes, officials, sponsors and other delegations. They work with other agencies
to ensure the security of all those attending or participating in the games along with any international
delegations security personal (such other heads of states).

Quote
One of the great things about watching our Olympics is we are a portrait of what this country is all
about -- people from every walk of life, every background, every race, every faith. It sends a
message to the world about what makes America special.
President Barack Obama

How do embassies help U.S. citizens?

U.S. citizens board a U.S. Air Force cargo plane
headed to Miami from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
( AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Embassies help American citizens in many ways. The effects of some are in plain sight, issuance of
visas to promote international visits to the United States while maintaining our border security. Other
effects are less obvious but can have an even more direct impact: a trade agreement worked out at
the U.S. embassy in Japan, for example, might well affect you personally in the lower cost of a car,
but you would probably never know it. Close consultations with foreign governments and
international organizations can stop an illness from becoming a pandemic. Skillful negotiations can
prevent a small conflict from spiraling into a war.

While the Consular officers provide immediate and personal assistance to American citizens every
day around the world -- replacing lost passports, assisting injured or ill travelers, and assisting with
marriages, births, and adoptions, other sections of the embassy provide more specialized assistance.
The Foreign Commercial Service or Foreign Agricultural Service helps American businesses connect
with local counterparts to increase American exports. The economic section works with local
political leaders to ensure that finance laws and regulations remain friendly for American businesses.
The public affairs section presents U.S. policy, values and culture to local media and public and
helps visiting American journalists get background, official interviews, and information for their
stories. The U.S. Agency for International Development works with host country institutions to
encourage agrarian and business enterprise and to enhance infrastructure. Military attaches and drug
and law enforcement agents manage programs and conduct exercises which create better
coordination between army and police services.
A U.S. citizen is hoisted to a U.S. Navy helicopter by a Rescue team after he was rescued from the
rubble of the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. ( AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Quote
Every person working in an embassy plays a vital role.
Shawn Dorman , Inside a U.S. Embassy

Who issues your U.S. passport?

Old U.S. Passport. (State Department image, U.S. Diplomacy Center)

Have you ever applied for a passport? If so, you may have picked up and dropped off your
application at a post office. But the U.S. Postal Service doesnt process your request. All passport
applications are received, reviewed, and granted (or not) through the U.S. Department of State.

Because the U.S. Department of State handles international relations for the United States, it is also
responsible for granting passports to American citizens. Passports provide proof of American
citizenship and allow Americans to reenter the United States once they have left its borders.
Passports also ask for the assistance of foreign governments and others to U.S. travelers. Passports
are not needed to travel between U.S. states, but as of 2009, you need a passport to travel to the
Caribbean and Canada.

The design and personal information contained in passports has changed through the years. Today
passports include a photo of the passport holder, date and place of birth, a passport number, and an
electronic chip with all of this information. Passports remain valid for up to 10 years, after which
you need to apply for a renewal.

People wait in line outside the U.S. Passport Office in downtown Washington, D.C. ( AP
Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

In the U.S. Department of State, responsibility for issuing passports lies with Passport Services
within the Bureau of Consular Affairs. There are roughly 9,000 Passport Agencies throughout the
United States where you can submit an application, including United States courts, state courts, post
offices, public libraries, county offices, and city offices.

Definition
Passport (noun):
Derived from the French words passer, meaning to enter or leave, and port, a port or
harbor, the term passport was used to mean a license to pass through a citys gate or through
the ports of the realm.

How Does the Department of State Interact

with Congress?
The Department of State is a Cabinet level department that operates under the Executive Branch of
the government. The U.S. Congress is the Legislative Branch, elected by and answerable to the
American people. The Constitution authorizes Congress to oversee but not establish U.S. foreign
policy, except by law and approval of war and treaties. In that capacity, Congressional committees
question Department officials about matters of foreign policy, internal operations and other subjects
as it sees fit.

The Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs facilitates effective communication between State
Department officials and the Members of Congress and their staffs. They work closely with
authorizing, appropriations, and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as with
individual Members who express interest in Department or foreign policy issues. Legislative Affairs
helps prepare State Department officials to testify before House or Senate panels, organizes briefings
for Members of Congress and their staffs, and coordinates Congressional travel to overseas posts for
direct information gathering.

The Secretary of State is the principal Congressional Relations Officer of the Department and the
Bureau of Legislative Affairs supports the Secretary by ensuring that the administration's foreign
policy priorities are reflected throughout the legislative process. Legislative Affairs coordinates the
Secretary's annual testimony on Department priorities and budget requirements to Congressional
committees with jurisdiction over State programs. The bureau provides appropriate information and
support for passage of relevant foreign policy legislation and appropriations, obtaining advice and
consent to treaties, and confirmation of the President's Departmental and Ambassadorial nominees
by the Senate.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee in session

Quote
The Constitution provided an invitation to the President and Congress to struggle for the privilege of
directing American foreign policy.
U.S. Senator Daniel P. Moynihan

How does the U.S. Department of State protect

American diplomats?
Former U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry was
surrounded by four DS special agents as he
stepped out of his vehicle for a meeting at
Diplomatic Security headquarters in suburban
Washington, D.C. (U.S. Department of State photo)

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S.
Department of State and is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct
of U.S. foreign policy.

Every U.S. diplomatic mission operates under a security program designed and maintained by
Diplomatic Security. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the Secretary of
State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate
passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations.

Outside of the United States, Diplomatic Security ensures that America can conduct diplomacy
safely and securely. DS plays a vital role in protecting U.S. embassies and personnel overseas,
securing critical information systems, investigating passport and visa fraud, and fighting terrorism.
Usually, local security guards are integrated into DS protection plans.

Marine Security Guards, working in coordination with DS personnel, protect many U.S. diplomatic
and consular faculties abroad. They provide internal security to prevent the compromise of classified
material vital to U.S. national security. They also provide protection for U.S government property
and U.S. government employees located within U.S. diplomatic and consular premises, especially
when under attack or during other urgent circumstances. (Taken from Marine Corps Embassy
Security Group website)

Quote

This job is demanding, the stakes are high, and the hours are long.

Nicolas Collura, Diplomatic Security Officer

What is the mission of the U.S. Department of

State?
The Harry S Truman Building, Department of State
headquaters in Washington D.C. ( AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Above all, the mission of the U.S. Department of State is to advance the national interests of the
United States and its people.

Everything the Department does supports this goal

training journalists,
signing a treaty on trade relations,
helping a developing country stand on its own feet

Every foreign policy decision by the President and the Secretary of State is made with the interests
and protection of the American people in mind.

The Departments mission statement appeared in its Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2016:

The Departments mission is to shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic
world and foster conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of the American people
and people everywhere. This mission is shared with the USAID, ensuring we have a common
path forward in partnership as we invest in the shared security and prosperity that will
ultimately better prepare us for the challenges of tomorrow.

Quote
But wonder on, till truth make all things plain.
William Shakespeare

What are the key policies of the U.S.

Department of State?
Chad Country Manager for Ambassadors Girls'
Scholarship Program, middle, talking to girls in
Ecole Mani, Chad. (Credit: AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

The U.S. Department of State carries out the foreign policy of the President and represents the
interests of the United States to other nations and international organizations.

The Departments goals may differ from nation to nation and change with time. But year after year,
across presidential administrations, a few broad policies are the bedrock of the Departments work.

These policies break down into the following five categories:

Protecting the United States and American citizens from the threats of terrorism,
weapons of mass destruction, infectious diseases, drug trafficking, crime, and environmental
degradation. American embassies and consulates overseas also provide protection and
assistance to American citizens abroad.
Advancing democracy by assisting newly formed democracies and denouncing regimes
that deny their citizens the right to choose their leaders in free, fair, and transparent elections.
Defending human rights by holding governments accountable to their obligations under
human rights standards and agreements; fostering greater respect for human rights;
promoting the rule of law, seeking accountability, and changing cultures of impunity; and
assisting efforts to reform and strengthen the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Encouraging economic growth and prosperity by supporting economic development
through increased investment and exports and democratization and by reducing poverty and
fighting disease through the programs of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Promoting international understanding of American values and policies by engaging
international audiences through official events and public programs at embassies around the
world and by people-to-people exchange programs in a broad array of fields, including the
arts, culture, education, sports, and science.

Quote
[America] goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom
and independence of all.
John Quincy Adams

An organization with an international membership, mission, or presence. There are two main types;
International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) are non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
that operate internationally, such as the International Olympic Committee or the International
Committee of the Red Cross. Intergovernmental organizations, also known as international
governmental organizations (IGOs), the type of organization most closely associated with the term
'international organization', are organizations that are made up primarily of sovereign states (referred
to as member states). Examples include the United Nations; NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organization); OAS (Organization of American States); APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation); ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations); and the WTO (World Trade
Organization).
What are the tools of diplomacy?
U.S. and South Korean diplomats speak in Diayoutai, Beijing.
( AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

IF YOU WERE a diplomat representing the United States in bilateral or multilateral discussions on
issues as diverse as cyberwars, use of oceans and outer space, climate change, refugees, trafficking
in persons, and even peace treaties, what skills and tools would you bring to the table?

The two most important skills to get to 'yes' are a thorough understanding of the U.S. perspective on
the issue and an appreciation of the culture and interests of the foreign diplomats sitting across the
table. Trade negotiations offer both sides the opportunity for a win-win solution but more complex
issues, which touch the interests of multiple parties or are particularly sensitive to one side or the
other, can make agreement (or a compromise) very difficult. When another institution, such as the
U.S. Senate, has final approval, U.S. negotiators have little room to maneuver.

As an example, agricultural negotiations often reflect cultural as well as economic intricacies.

Exporting U.S. rice to Japan and Korea, for example, is difficult because these countries have
internal subsidies that protect their local industries thus making imports very expensive, if
admissible at all. On multilateral issues, diplomats need to understand how their counterparts think
and express their unique and differing beliefs, needs, fears, and intentions.

To be successful, diplomats must listen carefully to what their counterparts say and find points of
agreement which may overcome those of disagreement. And they need to enter discussions with a
clear goal and strategy of what can be exchanged to reach agreement. In negotiating, diplomats often
use rewardssuch as the promise of new trade, an arms sale, or shipments of foodto encourage an
agreement. When diplomatic interests collide and a deadlock ensues, negotiators might threaten
sanctionssuch as restricting trade or travel, halting financial assistance, or an embargoto
persuade the other parties to accept an agreement.

The final result of negotiations is usually a formal written communique or agreement that spells out
the actions and responsibilities of each side. The most well-known is, of course, the TREATY (no
caps), a formal, written agreement between sovereign states or between or among countries and
international organizations. In the United States, treaties are negotiated through the executive
branch, which includes the Department of State. Once the negotiators have accepted the terms of the
treaty, the president sends the treaty to the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent on ratification, or
endorsement. If the Senate approves, the treaty is returned to the White House for the president's
signature. Many other countries have similar procedures for ratifying agreements and it may be
many years before a treaty might be signed and implemented. While the United States signed a
Treaty of Peace with Japan in 1951 after World War II, it has never settled terms of peace with
Germany, partly because Germany was divided at the end of the war.

U.S. and Jordanian diplomats meet with the press near Amman, Jordan. ( AP Photo/Mohammad
abu Ghosh)

Other forms of agreements include:

Treaties must be agreed to by the U.S. Senate and ratified by the President. The United
States and Great Britain ended the Revolutionary War with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
 Conventions often include many signatories and for which the original signatories encourage
other countries to join long after the original agreement is reached. In 1973, for example,
representatives of 80 countries agreed on a Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) to protect rare plants and animals around the world.
Alliances among nations are often formed for mutual economic, political or security benefit,
and can be multilateral or bilateral. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was
formed in 1949 to serve as a bulwark against threats by the communist Warsaw Pact in
Eastern Europe. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of Pact nations,
many Eastern European nations have joined NATO, thus changing and expanding its
defensive outlook. A bilateral example is the US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty of
1953.
Accords are voluntary agreements that countries enter into instead of a treaty or while they
try to work out the terms of a treaty. The Kyoto Accord is an agreement among nations to
limit the emissions of greenhouse gases.

The subjects of treaties span the whole spectrum of international relations: peace, trade,
independence, reparations, territorial boundaries, human rights, immigration, and many others. As
times have changed and the world has grown smaller, the subject and scope of accords have
broadened. The United States entered into a treaty with Tripoli in 1796 to protect American citizens
from kidnapping and ransom by pirates in the Mediterranean Sea; i

n 2001, the United States agreed to an international treaty to combat cybercrime.

Quote

No foreign policyno matter how ingenioushas any chance of success if it is born in the minds of
a few and carried in the hearts of none.
Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger

How does the U.S. Department of State engage

with other countries?
U.S. Consul General for Atlantic Canada,
taking questions from 2nd graders in
Moncton, New Brunswick. (State Department image,
U.S. Consulate General, Halifax)

While the principal and traditional role of diplomacy remains the daily interaction of Embassy
officers with officials and agencies of the host government, public diplomacy, i.e. direct engagement
with the people and social institutions of a country, has become more and more vital in an age of
instant communication.

Government-to-government negotiations are the primary means of pursuing the key policy agendas
of the United States. On a bilateral level, these discussions may deal with cooperative development
and health projects such as PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) that require
the buy-in of the host government. They also might stress the needs for host country to change
existing laws and institutions to create a broader base for government or open doors for trade and
exchanges. On a multilateral level, the U.S. seeks official agreement and support of host countries in
international efforts to advance democracy, prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, counter the
threats of terrorists and aggressive states, open world markets and communications, defend human
rights, and increase investments regionally and globally to everyones advantage.

In developing cooperative programs, a key element in advancing U.S. policy is direct assistance.
With the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State works to
improve food security and human health, reduce poverty, mitigate the impact of global climate
change, and empower women and girls. The agency also helps countries like Haiti to recover from
natural disasters and contributes to bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other
countries around the world.

At the same time, the Department of State and other U.S. agencies provide training programs both in
the host country and in the United States to deal with global issues, most recently in responding to
the worldwide threat of terrorism.

The United States champions the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and encourages countries
around the world to adhere to universally accepted principles of freedom, personal security, and
equality. The United States supports defenders of freedom in their efforts to establish democracies in
their own countries and assists newly formed democracies in following democratic principles. The
United States helps millions of refugees and victims of conflict or natural disasters around the world.
Each year, the United States also grants permanent visas to tens of thousands of refugees to live in
America.

U.S. bio-engagement program officer training Pakistani health care specialists new animal
vaccination techniques.

HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases pose global health challenges. As diseases
spread and more people become sick, the political and economic stability of countries is put at risk.
Working with other agencies and countries, the United States responds to world health problems and
monitors the spread of potentially dangerous diseases. U.S. diplomats work with other nations and
through multilateral institutions to help improve the lives of people everywhere.

Direct interaction with the public, however, has risen to the same level as governmental engagement.
In every embassy and consulate, Public Affairs offices work with media, cultural, educational, and
civil society leaders and institutions to publicize the domestic and international policies and
programs of the United States as they affect the host country. Support for and development of an
independent media allows the public to hear American perspectives including on internal affairs in
their country. Educational programming and exchanges offer opportunities to bring American artists
and experts on a wide range of topics to the host country while allowing foreign citizens a chance to
visit the United States on programs of varying length to acquire new knowledge, skills and contacts,
as well as to see the U.S. without media, societal, and governmental filters.

Quote
Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all . . . honesty
is always the best policy.
President George Washington

How does the U.S. Department of State engage

American youth?
Students raise their country cards to have a
chance to speak during a debate at the
Model United Nations Conference.

The U.S. Department of State has a deep interest in educating and involving todays students
the leaders and diplomats of tomorrow. Because of this, it has provided accessible information and
various programs to help students become better acquainted with U.S. foreign affairs and policy.

Involvement with the State Department does not have to be any harder than turning on a computer!
One of the best ways to become involved is to simply learn more about what the Department does
and how its work is important to all aspects of life. Aside from Discover Diplomacy, students can
check out http://www.state.gov/youthandeducation/ , where they will find links to various youth
programs, the Department blog, historical diplomatic milestones, and country specific information.

One way in which the State Department engages students in citizen diplomacy is through the
Fulbright Program and other student exchange programs. The Fulbright Program offers highly
competitive U.S. Government grants for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students and educators to
research abroad. Other exchange programs expand the opportunity to a wider population. Both those
who study abroad and those who host foreign students benefit from engaging with peers from other
countries and learning about their culture. These exchanges break down barriers and give both
individuals a more worldwide perspective.

For college students and recent graduates seeking a direct experience with diplomacy, the State
Department offers regularly occurring internships, both paid and unpaid. The paid internships take
place through the Pathways Program and involve only work in the United States. The unpaid
internships are offered both in Washington D.C. at State Department headquarters, and overseas at
the different embassies. These internships involve students in the diplomatic process, with a wide
variety of duties ranging anywhere from planning sports programs, to working at English camps,
handling logistics for a VIP visit or writing economic reports.

Quote
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President