What is a US Foreign Service Spouse?

A US foreign service officer is a member of the diplomatic corps of the United States. An officer may work for the Department of State, Department of Commerce, US Agency for International Development, or the Department of Agriculture. The US foreign service consists of over 13,000 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S. citizens abroad. Officers and their families live and work overseas at embassies and consulates.

Myth busted: not all diplomats are ambassadors; in fact, very few are.

A spouse is the significant other of a foreign service officer. Careers - like mine - get disrupted because of frequent moves that are similar to what US military families experience. However, the work histories, education, and unique skill sets of this diverse spouse population are second to none.