U.S. Department of State

Thank you for taking the time to respond to this post. 

I am engaging in some basic financial planning and do not yet have access to human resources.  Is there a standard military-to-FS pay/seniority scale for those of us who pass the examination process and assume duties as FS Generalists?  I will be an O-4 with over-10 on the military pay scale at the time of A-100. 

Additionally, would the wait time on the registry, if off of active duty, negatively affect my incoming pay and seniority, or would it be assumed that I had left active duty for this career, even though six months may have transpired in between military pay and FS pay?   Again, many thanks. 

 

 

Thank you for your questions, and thank you for your service to our country.

There is no standard military-to-FS pay/seniority scale. For information on entry salary, etc., please click here:

http://careers.state.gov/officer/benefits#salary

There are three possible FSO entry grades: FP-06, FP-05, and FP-04 -- with FP-04 being the highest possible entry grade. The entry grade afforded is based on educational level and number of years of qualifying work experience.  The step afforded within the appropriate hiring grade is based on the number of years of qualifying work experience.  Higher steps may also be afforded based on one's salary prior to joining the Foreign Service, all the way up to step 14 in the appropriate entry grade.  One cannot be afforded the next highest entry grade to match salary, however.  Current salary means salary earned for at least 90 days prior to appointment as a Foreign Service Career Candidate.

 

The date of appointment as a FS career candidate refers to the first official day on the job--the day you get swore in.

I see that people transitioning form the private sector can have 45 day break in service, and federal civilian employees have 3 days. I don't see military mentioned. Can you tell me how long can lapse between being discharged form the military and being sworn in, and still have the pay count as "current salary"?

thanks,
Sean

Although Military employees are not specifically addressed in SOP 134A, salary matching does apply for military personnel. Their base salary (no allowances) is used for pay setting purposes. As there are many variables for military members (such as if they are already retired, still on military duty at the time they are placed on the register, etc.) your Registrar will work with you to make sure the your starting salary will be appropriate.