Foreign Service Officers snooty?

[Anonymous]

Side question...how do you become a FSO? What is the career path?

[Anonymous]

It's true, they're insular.

I'm from the VA branch of State, haha. We're way more insular, but also smarter...and we never hang out with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have several FSOs in our neighborhood and my spouse used to work at State in a support capacity. Yes, they are full of themselves. To be fair, the ones I know are actually smart and educated, but also rude and just not interested in talking about anything besides their jobs. They all hang out together, rent homes from one another, etc -- very insular -- and if you get two in a room they only talk about who else in State they both mutually know.

FSO here. I think this is somewhat true of some FSOs but I also think it varies by cone and people who have come in over the last 10-12 years are really changing the culture for the better. Please keep an open mind. You will find great people who care about you, what you do and what you offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have several FSOs in our neighborhood and my spouse used to work at State in a support capacity. Yes, they are full of themselves. To be fair, the ones I know are actually smart and educated, but also rude and just not interested in talking about anything besides their jobs. They all hang out together, rent homes from one another, etc -- very insular -- and if you get two in a room they only talk about who else in State they both mutually know.

FSO here. I think this is somewhat true of some FSOs but I also think it varies by cone and people who have come in over the last 10-12 years are really changing the culture for the better. Please keep an open mind. You will find great people who care about you, what you do and what you offer.

You have to be kidding me. The young ones are the WORST. The absolute worst!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re generally pampered and live an expat life, which is a lot like being the colonizer in colonialism. Foreign officials kiss their butts overseas, so they start to believe their opinions are actually worth more. They also live in fear of the “up or out” rule. It’s brutal really. Some folks love it but the life isn’t for those who are deep thinkers and crave authenticity.

Oh, absolutely. Such a good answer. As someone who has come into contact with them quite frequently outside the US, I find them almost universally arrogant. Very few exceptions to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a neighbor who’s FS. She acts like nobody but her has any right to an opinion about international politics. I don’t even find her that well informed, pretty parochial actually. My guess is that the job isn’t actually that exciting under the surface. Hard to make a difference there, so they console themselves by feeling worldly.

By definition, they ARE worldly. What a strange criticism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Side question...how do you become a FSO? What is the career path?

Google is your friend.

In short, you take a test get in and everyone starts at the bottom (unless you’re a Trump appointee.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a neighbor who’s FS. She acts like nobody but her has any right to an opinion about international politics. I don’t even find her that well informed, pretty parochial actually. My guess is that the job isn’t actually that exciting under the surface. Hard to make a difference there, so they console themselves by feeling worldly.

By definition, they ARE worldly. What a strange criticism.

Disagree. They work in foreign policy and live outside the US. But they do that in a bubble. I think it’s faux worldliness. As a taxpayer and American who lives overseas sometimes, I think their lack of worldliness, lack of curiosity and their arrogance overseas to be disappointing and doing more harm than good. The Ugly American lives on. So disappointing. They’re also way too arrogant and focused on status to hear this critique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a neighbor who’s FS. She acts like nobody but her has any right to an opinion about international politics. I don’t even find her that well informed, pretty parochial actually. My guess is that the job isn’t actually that exciting under the surface. Hard to make a difference there, so they console themselves by feeling worldly.

By definition, they ARE worldly. What a strange criticism.

Disagree. They work in foreign policy and live outside the US. But they do that in a bubble. I think it’s faux worldliness. As a taxpayer and American who lives overseas sometimes, I think their lack of worldliness, lack of curiosity and their arrogance overseas to be disappointing and doing more harm than good. The Ugly American lives on. So disappointing. They’re also way too arrogant and focused on status to hear this critique.

+1. Living in embassy housing with security and support infrastructure doing everything for you definitely doesn’t make you worldly. I would actually consider most FSOs I know sheltered and out of touch.

[Anonymous]

An old college pal is one (a FSO that is). Obsessed with moving up the ranks to get more luxurious living quarters and a bullet-proof car!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just started a job at State. I really want to like the FS officers I meet, but they seem so full of themselves! Superficial even. Is it just the ones who got stuck in DC?

Snooty people are perceived as snooty, when really they just don't care if you like them or not.

[Anonymous]

Where do these FSO people usually live during their careers?

[Anonymous]

Our neighbors are in the foreign service. They leave for a few years, come back for a few years. We've visited them in two different countries. They've watched our kids grow up, and we've watched theirs. They could not be a nicer family and are anything but snooty. I'm sure there are all kinds of people at State, but there are definitely some good ones left.

[Anonymous]

What would make anyone snooty just because they live and work overseas? There are a handful of places I would actually be okay with visiting overseas, let alone living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors are in the foreign service. They leave for a few years, come back for a few years. We've visited them in two different countries. They've watched our kids grow up, and we've watched theirs. They could not be a nicer family and are anything but snooty. I'm sure there are all kinds of people at State, but there are definitely some good ones left.

+1 our old neighbors are now on a posting and we miss them (and our kids miss their kids) a lot. Can't wait to have them back in DC for another 3 years (in 2 years).