Diplomatic Security Foreign Service Special Agent (Sa) (Fp-2501)

In addition to the bachelor's degree requirement, candidates must possess at the time of application at least one year of work experience or academic achievements that reflect progressively increasing levels of responsibility. Experience must demonstrate basic knowledge of management, such as supervision, initiative, and leadership, and teamwork, English skills, including writing, speaking, and listening, conceptual skills, such as planning and organizing, critical thinking, active learning, and sound judgment, interpersonal skills, including perceptiveness, persuasion, working with others, cultural adaptability, objectivity, and integrity. Knowledge of security principles and procedures and the administration of security programs, such as conducting investigations, threat assessments, service in a law enforcement agency, or service in the U.S., military, is preferred, but not required. Proficiency in a foreign language is preferred but not required. Candidates with 18 credit hours of graduate level study may substitute that academic achievement for a year of work experience. Candidates who do not have a minimum of 18 credit hours of graduate study may substitute the following educational achievements for one year of work experience: 2.75 GPA (or above) for the bachelor's degree and two internships totaling at least four months duration. Candidates are required to qualify with firearms during initial training and maintain that proficiency thereafter. Candidates must be willing to use and carry firearms throughout their career. Candidates must not have been convicted of any felony charge or be prohibited from possessing a firearm. SAs must perform duties in the field that are physically and mentally demanding. SAs must be willing and able to meet these physical demands in high-stress, life-and-death situations. For this reason, SA candidates must satisfy medical, suitability, and physical readiness standards that are more rigorous than for other professions. Candidates must be fit for strenuous physical exertion and pass a Bureau of Diplomatic Security-administered pre-employment physical readiness test. The current physical readiness standards can be found at and the Physical Readiness Guide can be found at https://careers.state.gov/career-paths/foreign-service/foreign-service-specialist/diplomatic-security-special-agent/becoming-a-diplomatic-security-service-special-agent/physical-fitness-and-physical-readiness-test/. Please note that these standards are subject to change. SAs are required to perform protective security assignments with physical demands that may include, but are not limited to, intermittent and prolonged periods of running, walking, standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, climbing stairs, quickly entering and exiting various vehicles, pushing, pulling, dragging objects or people, wearing heavy body amour and gear, as well as carrying and fully operating a variety of firearms. SAs must also endure long or unusual hours, inclement weather, lack of sleep, rest, or meals, jetlag, extremes of heat and cold, and wet or polluted environments. Candidates must pass a thorough medical examination authorized by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Medical Services. SA candidates must meet certain minimum sensory standards, including various tests for vision in each eye, with and without correction, as well as audio-metric standards for hearing in each ear (use of a hearing aid is not permitted), sufficient to satisfactorily perform an Agent's duties. For example, uncorrected distant vision must be 20/100 or better in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 or better in the other eye. Candidates must also pass color vision and depth perception tests. SAs conduct raids, make arrests, and perform other law enforcement or related functions that may require running, jumping, kneeling, squatting, dodging, lying prone, as well as wrestling, restraining, and subduing suspects, attackers, or detainees. SAs must