Prep for Foreign Service Officer exam

**jcustis** · 05-25-2010

This is actually a spin-off question with zero relevance to the test, but hopefully a State hand is subscribed to this thread and can tell me what sort of military liaison billets exist at Foggy Botttom itself. If so, can you recall whether any of them are/were Marine officers.

**Pol-Mil FSO** · 05-27-2010

Maj Custis:

See my private message for POC info on the Senior USMC representative at State.

pd · 01-17-2011

hi, last minute decision - i am taking the foreign service exam in february. im looking for someone to teach me american history, in specific- military history. yes, i could read all this, but i already have a huge reading list, and would prefer to discuss with someone knowledgeable. if you know the government system- about filibusters and other ridiculous things that would help too. im in nyc, so if you're in the area let me know. if not maybe we can do this over email or phone. let me know asap.

p.s. i can not pay you but if you're also planning to take the test then i am good in math/economics/geography and i can teach you. if you're good at everything i can teach you a another language. i speak many.

**defense linguistics** · 01-17-2011

The FSOT shouldn't be a last-minute decision. It rewards humility and preparedness. Military history is of limited utility in passing. Reading a history of the U.s. Supreme Court would be my first choice in preparing for the written. Next, would be a diplomatic history.

**deichmans** · 01-17-2011

I think a deliberate study of macroeconomics would serve you better in taking the exam. When I took it (a dozen years ago), I was surprised how much of the exam was purely economic in nature (fiscal policy impacts, net trade deficits, etc.). The historical questions really focused more on organizations (e.g., what ASEAN and OPEC stood for) rather than any military campaigns.

Good luck! After you pass the written exam, they'll invite you to an oral exam; pass that and they may make a job offer.

**bourbon** · 01-18-2011

I recommend the book For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States of America, by Allan R. Millet & Peter Maslowski. It covers from Jamestown in 1607 to the end of Gulf War.

**jcustis** · 05-12-2013

Any updates to this exceptional thread?

I am just about overcome with joy that my eldest daughter (who is not physically qualified for .mil service) has a strong interest in becoming an FSO. She won't start college until the coming Spring, but the time goes fast and she'll be taking the exam soon enough.

**cassander** · 05-13-2013

I've passed the test 3 times, what do you want to know?

**ganulv** · 05-13-2013

Originally Posted by jcustis

I am just about overcome with joy that my eldest daughter (who is not physically qualified for .mil service) has a strong interest in becoming an FSO. She won't start college until the coming Spring, but the time goes fast and she'll be taking the exam soon enough.

I have no input on the exam, but I do have a suggestion for college life more generally. If she is interested in doing study abroad I would recommend she consider doing it during her sophomore rather than junior year. The first semester of senior year is dedicated to beginning to wrap up college and beginning to organize for life after graduation. I have seen a lot of people coming back from time abroad wish they had more time to explore what they saw there in the classroom, and that is easier to do during junior year.

**jcustis** · 05-15-2013

I'm less worried about the written exam and more concerned with the oral board. I've passed the written part a couple of times myself.

I'd like to know how the oral portion is structured nowadays.

If things continue to track as they are, I might even find myself sitting for the exam at the same time as my eldest.

ganulv, that is good gouge about semester abroad. She has expressed in a semester abroad to either Japan or S. Korea. She'll wrap up her fourth year of Japanese in a month.