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Navigating the Waters
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Navigating the Waters
Career One: Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service
FSOs are the primary leaders of America's Foreign Service. The career track I want to pursue is the political track. Political FSOs analyze the political landscape of a country/area and report on issues to senior FSOs. I may be placed anywhere throughout the globe at one of the US's 270 embassies. At entry level, I will:
- Analyze political situations
- Report on a certain area/issue to senior FSOs
- Contact host country government officials at the appropriate level
- Take notes during meetings for senior FSOs
- Supervise a local Foreign Service Specialist
Job Specifics
- There is no education requirement to be an FSO, though most FSO candidates have at least a Bachelor's Degree. The higher your degree the higher your pay.
- The starting yearly salary for an FSO with a B.A./B.S. stationed overseas is $57,079.
- Master's/Law Degree: $63,848
- Doctorate: $78,796
- Job location varies, of course. I would like to start off in a French-speaking country since that's the only foreign language I am used to, but once State pays me to learn other languages the possibilities are endless.
Specifics
The Office of the Legal Adviser
Legal Advisor
Attorneys under the Office of the Legal Adviser advises on all legal matters in the State Department. They can interpret, negotiate, and draft agreements in numerous areas such as human rights and arms control. Other tasks include:
- Assisting policy officers in implementing U.S. foreign policies
- Resolve international disputes
- Negotiate with foreign governments
- Work with members of other government agencies such as the DOJ
- Support the US mission at the Hague, the UN in NYC, and Brussels.
Attorneys may rotate stations every 2-3 years.
Job Specifics
Specifics
- This jobs requires a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school. In addition, attorneys under this office are expected to be admitted to and maintain admission in the Bar of one of the fifty states, Washington D.C., or Puerto Rico.
- Starting salary for a recently-graduated attorney with no experience starts at the GS-11 Step 1 rate of $55,204.
- Once an attorney has served their temporary 3-year term they may be hired on as a staff attorney which is eligible for rapid advancement to the GS-15 pay of $109,366.
- Attorneys mainly operate in Washington D.C., but may go overseas for temporary assignments.
The Judge Advocate General's Corps
JAG
While both the Army and Navy are on the table, I will focus on Army JAG since I am already a soldier. Army JAGs handle all legal services in the Department of the Army. JAGs practice law in a wide array of fields such as criminal law, operational law, and international law. Entry level JAG attorneys are commissioned as First Lieutenants and take on clients starting during their first tour of duty.
Job Specifics
Specifics
- Being an Army Judge Advocate requires a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and admission to the Bar of any U.S. state.
- JAGs must complete the six-week Direct Commissioning Course (DCC) at Ft. Benning, GA, and the ten-week Charlottesville Phase at the JAG's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, VA before beginning their first tour.
- First Lieutenants with 3 years of service earn a yearly salary of $59.612.40.
- Location of the job varies as JAGs can be placed at virtually any Army installation thoughout the U.S.
Lifestyle
Intended Lifestyle
Ultimately, I want a large house with a nice man cave, a pool, a hot tub, a walk in closet with many suits and golf shirts, and home office where books line the walls, but I recognize that such a scene comes with working experience. At entry level, I want to make enough excess to save in an emergency fund, invest in my portfolio, and save for trips arond the world. I want to be able to go out to eat about once a week and buy things on Amazon. Once I become a husband and a father, that lifestyle becomes mostly about them. I want to make an excess to not only save for myself, but open a 529 for each child as well. Geography doesn't matter at first, but once I have kids I want them to get their education at a decent school.
How do I have fun? (Entry Level)
- I would like a multicultural atmosphere where I can practice French and other languages. I'll always do French during leisure time.
- I like restaurants, so a place with easy access to many types of restaurants would be great.
- I like exercice so access to a gym would be nice.
- I want to surround myself with a diverse group of people in a place suitable to raise a family.
- I want to join a country club. I know that it would be down the line, but I just want to make it clear that that's an solid goal of mine.