The United States Foreign Service

The men and women of the US Foreign Service are America's first line of defense. They provide the diplomatic skills and professional continuity to assist Presidents and Secretaries of State in formulating and implementing the nation's foreign policy. Foreign Service professionals serve at American embassies and consulates around the world. In addition to representing the United States to other countries and international organizations, they assist American citizens, private voluntary organizations and businesses operating abroad. They are employees of the State Department, the Agency for International Development, the Commerce Department's Foreign Commercial Service, and the Agriculture Department's Foreign Agriculture Service.