U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan: January 6, 2015

We are pleased to announce that U.S. Embassy Kabul is an official testing site for the 2015 Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). Please share this management notice with your friends and colleagues who have expressed interest in taking the FSOT.

Registering for the FSOT is the first step in becoming a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) with the U.S. Department of State. The mission of an FSO, as U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service, is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing U.S. interests abroad. You will be asked to serve at any of the more than 256 Embassies, Consulates, and other diplomatic missions around the world. While some of these missions are in difficult and dangerous environments, working in them affords you the opportunity for great challenges and rewards. For general information about the FSOT and serving in the Foreign Service, you are encouraged to speak with other current Foreign Service Officers to learn more about this career and selection process.

How to Register: You will find complete information about career opportunities with the Department of State at: http://careers.state.gov. To register for the FSOT and find more information about the Foreign Service Officer selection process, go to http://careers.state.gov/officer/selection-process.

Seats at U.S. Embassy Kabul are scheduled for:

Saturday January 31st: 9:30AM to 12:30AM

Because test seats are limited, you are encouraged to register and select seats as early as possible.

Who can become a Foreign Service Officer?

To be eligible, the U.S. Department of State requires all applicants be:

· U.S. citizens on the date they submit their registration package;

· At least 20 years old and no older than 59 years of age on the day you submit your registration;

· At least 21 years old and not yet 60 on the day you are appointed as a Foreign Service Officer; and,

· Available for both domestic and worldwide assignments.

Other Considerations: Even though you are not required to know a foreign language to become a FSO, proficiency in one or more languages will enhance your competitiveness for selection. U.S. veterans will also receive Veterans Preference points.

Important dates regarding the FSOT: The following deadlines will apply to the upcoming 2015 test window. Note that some of these require specific action by posts. All deadlines are COB Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.

— Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM Central Time to Wednesday, January 28 2015 at 10:00 AM Central Time: The Pearson VUE seat selection portal will be open for candidates to schedule seats for the February testing window.

— Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 10:00 AM Central Time: Deadline for candidates to submit completed eligibility verification and application forms and schedule a test seat. NOTE: In the past, some candidates have waited until the last minute and either missed deadlines or found that desired testing locations were full. Candidates who are unable to test in this window, but have active applications will automatically be invited to the next testing window.

Please contact U.S. Embassy Kabul’s Deputy Human Resources Officer Paul Dever with any FSOT questions at FSOTKabul@state.gov.

Message for U.S. Citizens: Taking the U.S. Foreign Service Exam in Kabul