Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 19, 2011 Moderator Share Posted October 19, 2011 http://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/hp Anyone here worked as a FSHP for the state dept or considered doing so? After I finish my doctorate I may have to seriously consider this. they give several pay steps for graduate degrees ( 1 for an ms, 3 for a doctorate) as well as steps for experience. top of the pay scale is around 112k or so with LOTS OF EXTRAS. looks like a great gig. good pay, assignments worldwide, housing included, etc. You have to start working before your 60th b-day so I have plenty of time to think about this. as I understand it the first 2 yr assignment is usually in Africa or a "conflict posting" like a-stan or iraq and later postings usually are related to seniority and wish lists( to be at the embassy in switzerland you probably have been in > 20 yrs for example). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyJ Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I've been thinking about it for a couple years now. I had considered this the same time I got my gig in the Northern Marianas and decided to do that instead. Now that i've been back in the states for a year, I think i'm going to apply for this within the next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 E- what are the "extras" worth in your opinion (ie what would be the comparable salary in the civilian world without the primo bennies) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 20, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted October 20, 2011 free high end housing overseas? 500-1000/mo all govt benefits+retirement+job security+travel paid+ cme+non-cme education? a lot. all told probably> 125k+/yr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAdamsPAC Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 free high end housing overseas? 500-1000/moall govt benefits+retirement+job security+travel paid+ cme+non-cme education? a lot. all told probably> 125k+/yr Hanging out with the PSD folks when visiting the souks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittryn Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 free high end housing overseas? 500-1000/moall govt benefits+retirement+job security+travel paid+ cme+non-cme education? a lot. all told probably> 125k+/yr ...not to mention the invaluable benefit of travel -- spending time in other cultures with other people is priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest askyoulc Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 My friend started with the Foreign Service about a year ago and was just sent over to her first post. She's in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From what I've heard, she always has a bodyguard with her whenever she ventures beyond the compound, but she loves it. When she was in DC learning French, they paid for her housing and even a maid. Would you have to take the Foreign Service Exam for that job? I've looked at that book before, that exam doesn't look like fun, but I guess the PANCE/PANRE aren't either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 22, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted October 22, 2011 there is no mention of the exam in any of their recruitment info. I think the exam is for potential diplomats only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akdEM Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I start PA school in January, so obviously this is a little further off for me. It's been my goal to land one of these jobs ever since I heard about them a few years ago. Do you guys know how competitive they are? I believe they require a few years of experience, but I was wondering what other factors they consider. Does your friend in the Congo have a blog? I'd love to read it if she's ok with that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FfIghter23 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Bump Has anybody started the application process? After finishing school, and 5-8 years down the road I will be seriously considering this... Is this position family friendly (as in, you can move your wife and kids to live with you overseas)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 My wife grew up in a FS family, her dad working for the public relations/journalism side of things.. first post was Calcutta India in 1968. Vietnam after that, my wife, her brother/sister/mother catching the last commercial flight out of Saigon before it fell. New Zealand followed that, then Brazil. The family followed to all the posts but not always at the same time. Toting a family/household around the world takes some logistics and patience. My wife says her and her siblings were allowed one suitcase each (per family rules, not FS), whatever they could pack in it, but there mom had to be able to lift it, so it kept things within reason. Sometimes she was living out of that one suitcase..clothes, toys, books, the works for a month or so. Their household goods would eventually catch up to them and they would set up their home in the embassy housing. Her uncle still works for the FS. Right after 9/11 he was working the embassy in Pakistan...couple of rotations later, (Mexico City and then DC) he's now in Afghanistan..and that's after many, many years in. He's working towards Ambassador though so the tough posts help pad his resume. His wife is with him (kids are all grown up, working internationally themselves)only because she is also a FS employee and that duty station had a job for both of them. (It is not medical). He reports that it's awesome. High stress/tension but they are treated very well by the embassy/compound staff, there is a lot of vacation/leave time available with provided tickets just about anywhere in the world they want to go. Uncle Sam's benefit package doesn't suck much if you don't mind being at his whim. If you have the adventure spirit within you, I think it could be a lot of fun. However... I find traveling the world at my own whim is much more enjoyable than when I did it in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club. Neither my wife nor I really want to put the kids through that much disruption in their early years where they have to move countries every 2-4 years. My wife has some sequelae from that lifestyle that she feels is hindering when it comes to settling into a community and making lasting connections. As the saying goes YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCMA79 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 When I looked into it the NPs/PAs were sent to the most remote locations while the Regional Medical Officers (Physicians) were assigned to a hub location that was usually a more desireable location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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