TABLES Colleges visited during calendar 1955 (by recruiting teams). Special listing of officers of the Foreign Service assigned to selected posts by function, showing officer's personal category and class, functional title, Representation allowances, estimated obligations, 1957- State of residence of applicants for Foreign Service officer of class 8, calen- Foreign Service officer appointments, calendar 1957 (as of April 1, 1957), Language qualifications offered by candidates who took the FSO-8 written Language qualifications offered by candidates who took the FSO-8 written examination in 1956 (8,194 candidates).. Career and noncareer chiefs of mission since 1924 (at 4-year intervals) – Summary report of appointments from regular FSO-8 examinations, 1947-56__ College relations campaigns, 1955–56. Lateral entry-summary progress report, April 1-15, 1957 Foreign Service officers, class 6 or 8 appointees, May 1, 1954 to December 31, 1956: Source of recruitment. 92 Undergraduate college attended_ Foreign Service officers, class 6 appointees, January 1, 1946 to September 30, 1952: 93 Source of recruitment. 94 Undergraduate college attended.. 95 Comparative analysis of colleges attended by Foreign Service officer appointees-class 6 (now class 8) School of foreign affairs-attendance at interagency seminars by agencies__ 97 107 PERSONNEL PRACTICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1957 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON STATE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS, Washington, D. C. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:33 a. m., in room G-3, United States Capitol, the Honorable Wayne L. Hays (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. HAYS of Ohio. Mr. Secretary, the Committee on Foreign Affairs has always had a lively interest in the Foreign Service. The Foreign Service Act of 1946 was written by this committee. During the last 3 years the progress of integration of departmental and staff personnel into the Foreign Service has been the subject of study by this committee. In the last Congress the committee reported out, and the Congress passed, three measures to strengthen the Foreign Service and the Department of State. There is no legislation before us now. But I think it is time that we took an inventory of the results obtained from the legislation we have previously enacted. We want to find out something about the progress and the problems that have resulted from integration. In the course of this meeting we may develop areas that require further examination. I might state, as you all well know, this job of being chairman of this subcommittee is new to me, as well as the very fact that I have never been on the subcommittee before. I feel that I personally can stand some education on the subject of your personnel problems. I am sure members of the subcommittee, while some of them are quite well versed on it, may have some questions they would like to ask. I know that you don't have a prepared statement. I had thought to start the thing off, what I would like to have you do, if you can, is just take a hypothetical FSO who comes into the Department brandnew and tell us just what prospects would lie before him in the way of we know not many of them will achieve the pinnacle you have achieved, but going up through the ranks in the course of his career in the State Department, what things would he have to do, what qualifications, additional qualifications would he have to meet in the course of years, and how do you set these things up. I know that is a broad field. I would like to have some background on it, if you follow what I mean. Mr. HENDERSON. I do. Mr. HAYS of Ohio. I have no particular person in mind, but Mr. X who comes in for the first day. STATEMENT OF HON. LOY W. HENDERSON, DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ADMINISTRATION Mr. HENDERSON. Let's say Mr. X has passed his written and oral examinations and takes his oath as Foreign Service officer, class 8, which is the bottom of the Service. In due course he will be ordered to the Department for study in the Foreign Service Institute where he will undergo 3 months' intensive training. This training will prepare him to take a post abroad or perhaps in the Department of State. It should give him a general idea at least of what he is expected to do when he takes his first job in the Department or in an embassy or consulate. It will also give him an understanding of the organization of the Department, of what the various sections of the Department are doing, of the relationship among these sections and between the Department and the field. Mr. BENTLEY. Excuse me a minute. I don't know, Mr. Chairman, whether or not you would be interested in having Mr. Henderson tell you what the minimum qualifications to pass the examination would be. Mr. HAYS of Ohio. I think that would be good. If it is all right with the Secretary, and I think that it might be, it would be agreeable with me to have any member ask questions in amplification as you go along, because there may be some questions occur that would be better answered right at the moment and fit in with your statement better. Mr. HENDERSON. Would you like to have me briefly discuss the examinations? Mr. BENTLEY. I wasn't thinking so much of the examinations. But, for example, what level of education would a man have to achieve to reach that? What linguistic qualifications, and so forth? Mr. HENDERSON. The young men and young women who are drawn into the Service usually have a degree, an A. B. or B. S. degree from a university, although a degree is not necessary. Many of them have taken advanced studies and possess M. A., Ph. D., or some other degrees. In general, Foreign Service officers should have a broad liberal education; we have found that officers with such an education are likely to possess the flexibility and breadth which Foreign Service officers should have. If these young men or women in addition to a broad education have specialized in administration, in economics, or in languages, so much the better. But this specialization is not required. Until quite recently it was necessary for an applicant to take an examination in a spoken language, a modern language. Failure to pass the language examination rendered it rather difficult to pass the general examination. We no longer require an examination in a foreign language, although applicants may take such an examination voluntarily in any modern foreign language. We don't require it because we have found that such a requirement limits the number of applicants from whom we can select officers. If a candidate is appointed, however, without having foreign language proficiency, he must acquire language competence before he can be promoted to class 7. Unfortunately, American universities throughout the country as well as American high schools do not in general offer the kind of instruction in foreign languages which turns out linguists. They don't emphasize languages. We would, therefore, have a restricted number of applicants if we should require mastery of a foreign language as a condition for entry into the Service. However, this year we are trying out a plan to encourage language study among the applicants. If an applicant voluntarily takes a foreign language examination and passes it, 5 percent is added to whatever grade he has received for the written examination. This additional 5 percent may give him an opportunity to take the oral which he might not otherwise have had. The written examination is of a general character. It tests a person's general education, his cultural background, his ability to express himself effectively in written English. We try to find out what he knows in the matter of history, economics, and general educational background. Usually about 1 person out of 5 passes the written examination at the present time. STATEMENT OF ARCH JEAN, CHIEF OF EMPLOYMENT DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF STATE Mr. JEAN. One out of ten end up offered appointments as Foreign Service officers. Mr. HENDERSON. Who passes the written, about how many? Mr. HENDERSON. One out of five of the applicants pass the written examination, and less than half of those who pass the written examination pass the oral. The questions are worked out between the Department of State and a group of specialists at Princeton. Mr. JEAN. It is the educational testing service at Princeton with whom we have contracts. The written examination is prepared and graded by the educational testing service. Mr. HENDERSON. Some time ago I made a talk before representatives of a number of colleges in Michigan regarding our examinations and the type of young people whom we would like to take them. It might be helpful for me to have inserted here excerpts from this talk: We are, of course, interested in the quality rather than merely in the number of candidates. It would be manifestly unfair to encourage a young man or woman to take the examinations who obviously does not possess the requisite qualifications. Our written examinations in June and December will be quite different from those given in previous years. They will be held at some 50 centers throughout the United States and its Territories so that the candidates will not be compelled to travel long distances in order to take them. The examinations are much shorter than those given in previous years. They do not embrace as many subjects; they are more general in scope; they contain no catch questions; they place no premium upon the memorizing of dates or of the names of persons and places. Those who pass these examinations must have a good general educational background; they must have certain cultural interests; they should understand various systems of governments; they must be acquainted with the basic principles of economic theory; they should know something about geography and international problems; they should be able to present their ideas in an orderly fashion in suitable language; and they should display judgment and commonsense. They should be able also to pass an examination in at least one foreign language either before entering the service or before receiving a promotion. The oral examinations afford the candidates an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the personal qualifications which a Foreign Service officer should. possess. It is not easy to describe these qualifications; they are almost indefinable. It might be less difficult to describe the kind of young men and women who are likely to become the most useful Foreign Service officers. They should have friendly, attractive personalities; they should possess a sensitiveness which renders them quick to understand the views, the prejudices, and the problems of people of different national, racial, or occupational backgrounds; their faces and their bearings should reflect an eagerness to learn and a lively intellectual curiositythe Foreign Service is no place for dull, unimaginative persons. They should be interested in the manners, customs, languages and history of peoples of other times and places. These interests should have been manifested by the reading not only of the best American literature but of some of the great international classics. In their studies and work they should be thorough without being pedantic. They should have a healthy sense of humor. They should not shrink from tasks requiring a high degree of intellectual concentration. They should be complete masters of English grammar and should have a feeling for the structure of the English language. If they are good at sports, particularly those in which they can continue to engage while in the Service, so much the better. Natural brilliance is a great asset in the Service; but brilliance in itself is not enough; it is likely to burn itself out quickly unless it is accompanied by integrity, steadiness, sincerity, and real modesty. Please do not obtain the impression from my remarks that only paragons can obtain admittance into the Foreign Service. We are quite aware that we are not likely to find concentrated in any one person all the qualities which we would like for our Foreign Service officers to possess. I hope, however, that what I have said will help in identifying the kind of young men and women who in our opinion would be best qualified to represent our country in the foreign field. Mr. HENDERSON. We send out panels to various parts of the country to give the oral examination to those who have passed the written. These panels usually consist of three State Department or Foreign Service officers. The oral examination is usually an hour and a half in duration. During the oral examination a careful assessment is made of the personality, the character, the presentability, the honesty, the straightforwardness, and the intelligence of the candidate. As has been pointed out, less than 1 out of 2 of these candidates who appear before the panels pass the examination. Mr. BENTLEY. What efforts do you make to insure widespread geographic representation? Mr. HENDERSON. We send out teams from the Department to the universities throughout the country in every State of the country. Mr. Jean can tell you the number of universities to which we sent teams last year. Mr. JEAN. Two hundred fifty-two universities were actually visited personally, and then by mail another 300 were informed. So we have approached more than 500 schools. Mr. HENDERSON. Our teams go out and talk with the members of the faculty, placement directors, and the students. A vigorous effort is made to reach a maximum number of the students. Thus we try to create an interest in the Foreign Service in every part of the United States. The fact is that we do draw our officers from every section of the United States. Mrs. KELLY. May I assume these are American citizens? Mr. HENDERSON. Always. They must be American citizens. No candidate is certified for appointment unless he has been an American citizen for at least 10 years. (The following information has been submitted for the record.) |