7 Steps to Becoming a Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier

Selection Process

The selection process for an exciting global career as a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Diplomatic Courier begins with an online application where you will demonstrate your unique knowledge, skills and abilities to serve as a DSS Diplomatic Courier in the Foreign Service. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security looks for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds to join us in delivering worldwide secure transportation services for our classified diplomatic pouches.

Before you begin your application, please review our webinar resources, videos, and reach out to a DSS recruiter to learn about the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier career and Foreign Service lifestyle. You can connect with a Courier recruiter at DSScareers@state.gov. For specific questions on the assessment process, please email DSFSapplicants@state.gov.

Let’s look at the process in more detail and get you started on your way to a new career!

Step 1: Review the Vacancy Announcement

Fully review the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Vacancy Announcement as it comprehensively describes the requirements, duties, qualifications, benefits and application process for the position. This step is critically important to understanding the position you are applying for and prepares you to complete your application. The Vacancy Announcement opens periodically based on the hiring needs of the U.S. Department of State. To be notified of the next open vacancy announcement, join our Talent Network.

Here are some basics to get you started!

What are the minimum qualifications required to become a DSS Diplomatic Courier?

Conditions of Employment:

  • You must be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the Foreign Service.
  • You must be able to obtain/maintain Top Secret Security Clearance and TS/SCI access.
  • You must meet the minimum medical qualification standard and the Supplemental Physical Qualification Standards for the Diplomatic Courier position.
  • You must be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
  • You must be appointed prior to age 60 (except for preference eligible veterans. Preference eligible veterans must be appointed prior to their 65th birthday. Please see https://careers.state.gov/faq-items/are-veterans-given-hiring-preference/.
  • You must possess and maintain a valid/current U.S. Driver’s License.
  • You must be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.

Requirements:

  • You must have an associate’s degree (or higher) or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university by the closing date of the announcement and must provide proof of the education requirement.
  • You must submit a copy of your university transcript(s) with your application.

Official or unofficial transcripts must demonstrate you meet the required educational achievements. If you do not submit this documentation, your candidacy will not continue. Transcripts must include your name, the school’s name, the degree, and date awarded. A website of the academic institution is not sufficient, the school’s name, your name, degree awarded (such as electrical engineering, physics, etc.), and date awarded all must be printed on the transcript. A transcript missing any of these elements or any pages will not pass the minimum qualifications, and your candidacy will not continue. Copies of diplomas may not be submitted in lieu of transcripts for education above high school level.

Transcripts must comply with the following requirements to be accepted:

  • Must be in PDF format. Any other format will be rejected.
  • Must be an attachment. Documents sent via link, secured message, or any other non-attachment format will be rejected.
  • Must include applicant’s name, school’s name, degree and date awarded/conferred.
  • Must have no missing pages.
  • Must be legible.
  • Accredited foreign educations transcripts should conform to the requirements outlined above.
  • Documents received directly from credential evaluation services will be rejected.

Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Education completed in foreign high schools, colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Only accredited organizations recognized as specializing in the interpretation of foreign education credentials that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) are accepted. If documentation from an accredited organization is not provided, your candidacy will not continue.

 

Experience Requirements

You must possess at least three years of work experience with progressively increasing responsibility. Qualifying experience must demonstrate the ability to analyze problems, gather pertinent information and data, plan and organize work, form solutions, implement action, and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Evidence of working and/or living in a multicultural environment is desirable.

Candidates must demonstrate experience and abilities in at least two of the following areas:

  1. Experience in office operations in a government agency or a business, or an industrial firm servicing a client or client organization, demonstrating initiative, ingenuity, resourcefulness and judgment required to organize, implement and accomplish tasks;
  2. The ability to think logically and objectively, to analyze and evaluate facts, and to apply sound judgment in assessing the practical implications of solutions such as those required for negotiating contracts, and scheduling services or production runs and to do so independently with little direct supervision;
  3. Responsibility for planning and scheduling resource needs, or organizing requirements for deliverables;
  4. Experience preparing written and oral reports and presenting findings in a clear and concise manner;
  5. Interpersonal skills, including cultural sensitivity, discretion, tact, and capacity for obtaining the cooperation and confidence of others during team efforts and when supervising; and
  6. Experience scheduling airline and other transportation. Dealings with routing practices and customs processes, or with agents or officials involved in transporting materials across international boundaries, is also credited.

 

Substitution of Education for Experience

  1. Applicants with 18 credit hours of undergraduate level study in addition to an Associate’s level degree may substitute that academic achievement for one year of general experience.
  2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university may be substituted for two years of general experience.

Review the full Vacancy Announcement HERE.

 

Step 2: Complete and Submit Your Application

Tell us about yourself! The Bureau of Diplomatic Security looks forward to receiving your application and learning about you. Details matter, take your time to submit a complete and high-quality application for the position.

To complete your application, please visit USAjobs.gov and create a web account. Follow the instructions in the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier vacancy announcement to complete the online application and upload your documents. Ensure you fully complete each section and answer all questions. It is important your responses and USAJobs resume fully reflect your qualifications for this position.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required documents are uploaded (not linked) and the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement. Documents sent via link will not be accepted. Any missing required documents or incomplete applications will disqualify the application from further consideration.

Resume from USAJobs Resume Builder, will be the only resume format accepted for this Vacancy Announcement.

Complete online application, including the required Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest narratives.

All required supporting documentation, including proof of educational achievements, certifications, professional licenses, or completed forms as required in this Vacancy Announcement. PDF documents are strongly recommended; illegible documents will not be accepted.

Note: Your application is saved automatically as you proceed through it. You can save your work and return to the application from USAJobs at any time prior to the deadline.

You must fully complete your application to include your USAJobs resume, the Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest. You may wish to review the Foreign Service Dimensions which are attributes or qualities the Department seeks in successful Foreign Service employees. The Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Vacancy Announcement will offer insight into the attributes and requirements for this position.

 

What documentation is required for Veterans’ Preference (those between the ages of 60-64 must provide proof of preference?

  • Copy of DD-214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” that must include your Character of Service, or a Certification of Service.
  • If eligibility is based on a service-connected disability, you will need to submit your VA letter and a Standard Form 15 “Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference”, (the fillable SF-15 is available at https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf); in addition to your DD-214 or Certification of Service.
  • A Certification of Service must be from the armed forces certifying the service member is expected to be discharged/released from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days after the Certification is submitted. The Certification must include military service dates, date of expected discharge/release, and character of service and disability rating, if applicable. It must note any qualifying campaign badges or expeditionary medals which would grant veteran’s preference. The Certification should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service.

 

What benefit does Veterans’ Preference provide?

Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier candidates who are military veterans and have passed the Assessment may qualify for Veterans’ Preference points to be added their overall Assessment score. Applicants who meet the requirements for Veterans’ Preference will receive 0.175 veteran preference points for a five-point standing and 0.35 for a 10-point standing on the Register of Cleared Candidates as defined in 5 USC § 2108. Questions pertaining to Veterans’ Preference may be directed to DSFSapplicants@state.gov.

We strongly recommend that you confirm all the information in your application is accurate and complete before submitting as you will not be able to make changes to the application after the closing deadline. After you complete and submit the application and required documentation, this information will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.

The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials to include responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.

While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.

 

Submitting Accomplishments Questionnaire

The Accomplishments Questionnaire provides an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate your qualifications for becoming a Diplomatic Courier. Examples can be drawn from any part of your professional or personal experience. Each response is limited to 300 words or fewer (maximum length 2,000 characters). You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Foreign Service Specialist is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Answers to all items in the Accomplishments Questionnaire and Statement of Interest are required and must be completed in the online application.

 

The Statement of Interest

The Statement of Interest should discuss your:

  • Motivation for joining the Foreign Service
  • Motivation for becoming a Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier
  • Relevant work experience, including any unique strengths not described elsewhere, such as special skills (e.g. computer), current licenses, certifications, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and/or training (with date completed) relating to this position
  • Experience living or working in a multicultural environment, overseas or in the United States.

We look forward to learning more about you through your application package.

 

Step 3: Minimum Qualifications Review and Qualification Evaluation Panel

Next steps in reviewing your candidacy for the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier position.

What are the Minimum Qualifications Review and the Qualification Evaluation Panel?

After the announcement closes, DS Human Resources will review the applications and will determine which application packages meet the required minimum qualifications for the position, as outlined in the Vacancy Announcement. Application packages that meet the advertised qualifications will then move to the Qualifications Examination Panel (QEP). In this step, the QEP, composed of experienced Diplomatic Security Service Subject Matter Experts, will evaluate the entire application package to include the accomplishment questions and statement of interest and evaluate in more detail your education, skills, abilities, motivation, professional experience, and job history. The QEP scores each application to determine the best qualified applicants for the position. Only the highest ranked candidates will receive an invitation to the Assessment.

The number of candidates invited to the Assessment may differ over time, depending on the Department of State’s budget and hiring needs.

Please note, due to the high volume of anticipated applications, we ask all candidates to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before you are informed of the results of your application.

 

Step 4: Take the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Assessment

Where do I take my Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Assessment?

The Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Assessments are normally conducted in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Costs for travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the applicant.

 

What to expect during the Assessment?

The e-mail invitation letter will specify where the Assessment will take place. Candidates must report to their assigned Assessment Center no later than the arrival time (versus assessment time) indicated in their confirmation e-mail letter. Candidates who arrive late may be refused entry. The Assessment itself will take approximately four hours for Diplomatic Courier candidates, however there may be some additional administrative time at the end of the process. Candidates should plan their return trip accordingly. While the main elements of the Diplomatic Security Assessment remain constant, information on logistical details or time limits or Assessment order, for example, can change quickly. Accordingly, candidates who advance to the Assessment stage should follow the instructions provided on the day of the Assessment.

The invitation to the Assessment will advise candidates what documents and information they will need to bring to the Assessment Center.

The Department of State is committed to full and equal participation in all aspects of the application process. Candidates with disabilities may request accommodations to take the Assessment by contacting the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation at OAA@state.gov. Candidates must clearly describe the accommodation(s), the medical need (diagnosis), and how the requested solution(s) support participation in the Assessment. Candidates should contact OAA as soon as possible and be prepared to submit medical documentation, if requested. Any delay may require the Assessment to be postponed.

Water will be available at the Assessment Center. Candidates may bring coffee and/or soft drinks to the Assessment Center. There is secure space to store coats, bags, and electronic gear. Electronic gear, including cell phones and other Smart devices must be turned off and cannot be accessed until the Assessments are completed.

Please review the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Assessment Guide for full details on the assessment process to include the Foreign Service Dimensions and evaluation.

 

The Assessment is made up of three parts:

Competency Test

Candidates for Diplomatic Courier positions will begin their day with an hour-long online Competency Test which includes multiple choice questions about English expression, reading comprehension, and situational judgment.

 

The Written Test

Utilizing a laptop computer, candidates will have 45 minutes to write a one to two page essay on a topic that the candidate will select from a list of questions provided on the day of the Assessment. Assessors evaluate the essays based on a candidate’s ability to analyze a topic and to write a concise, well-organized essay in grammatically correct English. A well-written essay will make a clear and effective argument that is easily read and understood. Assessors do not consider the opinions expressed when evaluating an essay.

 

The Structured Interview

All candidates participate individually in a Structured Interview conducted by the three assessors. Candidates are expected to respond to questions based on their personal background, professional experience, and motivation to become a Diplomatic Courier.

Candidates should respond specifically to the questions that are asked in a clear and concise manner, rather than give a response that highlights their qualities or resume but does not answer the specific question.

The interview is structured to ensure that all candidates receive the same Assessment experience. Candidates will likely find it more formal and structured than other interviews they may have experienced. Assessors will remain neutral throughout the interview and not provide any clues, including non-verbal ones, about a candidate’s performance. During the Structured Interview, assessors may shuffle papers, lose eye contact, or interrupt a candidate to manage the time. Candidates should not assume that these actions signal anything either positive or negative.

The Structured Interview portion of the Assessment consists of three sections, which together, will last no more than 60 minutes. The interview encompasses a lot of material, so candidates will have only a few minutes to answer each question. The time is controlled to provide all candidates the same opportunity.

A. Experience and Motivation Interview – In this portion of the Structured Interview, candidates should convey to the assessors a clear and precise picture of themselves, including their understanding of the opportunities and challenges of a career in the Foreign Service. The assessors will consider candidates’ expressed motivation and experience to join the Foreign Service. It is helpful to have some knowledge not only of the Foreign Service in general, but also of the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier career.

B. Past Behavior Interview – In the second segment of the Structured Interview, the assessors ask the candidate a series of questions to which the candidate should respond with examples from their own experience. Candidates will have six minutes to select six questions they wish to discuss (one question for each Dimension) and to prepare their responses based on the candidate’s personal experience. During this portion of the Structured Interview, candidates should ensure that their responses relate directly to the relevant Dimension and emphasize what they personally did in each situation.

C. Hypothetical Scenarios – The final part of the Structured Interview consists of a series of hypothetical scenarios designed to test the candidate’s situational judgment. Although the scenarios presented in this exercise are hypothetical, they are closely related to real-life situations that Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Couriers regularly encounter. Candidates are advised, however, that while the scenarios occur in a Foreign Service setting, they are not expected to know how an Embassy operates or to be familiar with government rules and regulations. Rather, they are asked to provide a solution that demonstrates good judgment and knowledge of their specialty.

 

Evaluating the Exercises

Each assessor scores a candidate’s performance on the writing exercise and on the structured interview based on a scale of one to seven, with seven being the highest possible score.

For Diplomatic Courier candidates, the scores for the competency test are computed automatically.

The combined score from all exercises determines a candidate’s overall score. The cut-off score to continue a candidacy is 5.25.

Be sure to review the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier Selection and Assessment Guide for more comprehensive information.

 

Step 5: Clearances – Medical & Security

All Foreign Service candidates must receive security and suitability clearances and meet the minimum medical qualification standard as conditions of employment with the Department of State to receive a confirmed offer of employment. In addition, Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier candidates must meet Supplemental Physical Qualification Standards.

Tell me more about the Minimum Medical Qualifications Process

The Bureau of Medical Services of the Department of State determines a candidate’s medical fitness and ability to serve overseas. Many Foreign Service posts are in remote areas with extremely limited medical support. Each candidate, therefore, must meet the minimum medical qualifications. Medical qualifications are determined by the minimum medical qualification standards office based on its thorough review of each candidate’s medical history and a physical examination, including an individual assessment of his/her specific medical needs and the medical capabilities of Foreign Service posts to meet those needs.

After receiving a conditional offer of employment, MED Care Management will assist candidates throughout the minimum medical qualification standards process, to include providing the candidates with the necessary examination forms (with instructions) to give to their health care provider (MD, DO, NP, PA). Per the MED Care Management Office, candidates are NOT to obtain your own medical forms as MED Care will provide all the necessary medical forms needed for candidates who passed the Assessment and for their eligible family members.

The Bureau of Medical Services will provide an authorization for the U.S. Department of State to pay for outside examinations as a secondary insurer once a candidate’s primary insurance provider has paid its share.

The purpose of the pre-employment minimum medical qualification standards is to identify any physical or mental health condition(s) that could limit one’s availability to serve overseas without disruption. If the candidate meets the minimum medical qualification standard, the minimum medical qualification standards is valid for five years from the date of issuance through the end of their first tour. For more information on the minimum medical qualifications, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.

 

What additional Supplemental Physical Qualifications do DSS Diplomatic Couriers need?

Diplomatic Courier applicants must meet certain minimum sensory standards, including various tests for vision in each eye, with and without correction, as well as audio-metric standards for hearing in each ear (use of a hearing aid is not permitted). For example, uncorrected distant vision must be 20/100 or better in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 or better in the other eye. Applicants must also pass color vision and depth perception tests. Have no conditions that would interfere with the performance of essential functions of the Diplomatic Courier position, including lifting and moving objects that may be oversized and weigh as much as 70 lbs., frequently climbing ladders and working in and around aircraft, trucks, trains, aboard ships, etc., crawling, maneuvering, and working in cramped spaces, and performing work that involves regular and recurring periods of prolonged standing, bending, and stretching.

 

Tell me more about the Security Clearance process

After passing the Assessment, candidates must undergo a comprehensive background investigation, conducted by the U.S. Department of State, that will provide the information necessary to determine a candidate’s suitability for appointment to the Foreign Service and for a Top-Secret security clearance. The Diplomatic Security Service’s Office of Personnel Security, the office responsible for processing background investigations, will assign candidates a Clearance Coordinator who will assists them through completing and submitting the Electronic Application (eAPP). The eAPP contains the investigative standard forms federal applicants and employees use to input information required to process their background investigation.

All backgrounds are assessed using the SEAD 4: National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, the single common criteria used to evaluate all individuals who require national security eligibility. In addition to these standards, DSS considers all available, reliable information about a person (past and present, favorable, and unfavorable) when reaching a national security eligibility determination; this is known as the “whole-person concept.”

All Foreign Service candidate investigations are sent to the Board of Examiners for evaluation by a Suitability Review Panel to determine suitability for employment with the Foreign Service, even if the candidate already holds the appropriate national security clearance.

Additional information and Frequently Asked Questions on the security clearance process can be found here.

 

How long does it take to get Medical and Security Clearances?

The time to obtain medical and security clearances varies widely for each candidate depending on their personal circumstances.

 

Step 6: Suitability Review Panel

Upon completion of the background investigation, a Suitability Review Panel will examine your file to determine your suitability for employment with the Foreign Service.

What happens during the Suitability Review Panel?

A Suitability Review Panel will examine your file to determine your suitability for employment with the Foreign Service.

The Department of State requires the highest standards of conduct by employees of the Foreign Service, including an especially high degree of integrity, reliability, and prudence. Given the representational nature of employment in the Foreign Service, employees must always observe proper standards. The purpose of the suitability review is to determine, from the candidate’s total record, whether the candidate is indeed suitable to represent the United States. The Suitability Review Panel has the authority to terminate a candidacy.

The U.S. Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. In evaluating suitability, the factors and criteria the Suitability Review Panel takes into consideration may be found here: 3 FAM 2215.2

 

Step 7: Register of Cleared Candidates

What is the Register of Cleared Candidates?

Once meeting all pre-employment requirements, you will be placed on a rank order Register of Cleared Candidates for the Diplomatic Security Service Diplomatic Courier position. You may remain on this Register for up to 18 months, after which your candidacy will expire. Please note that if U.S. Department of State, Global Talent Management extends a final offer of employment and you decline or do not respond, your name will be placed back on the Register and there is no guarantee you will receive a subsequent offer. If you do receive a second final offer of employment and decline or do not respond, your candidacy terminates regardless of how much time you have left on the Register. Your ranking on this register will fluctuate over time as other candidates are added to or drop off the register. Candidates who are eligible for veterans’ preference, or who demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language, may receive additional points and thus may increase the chances of receiving a final offer of employment.

 

What happens if I am offered an appointment?

If you rise to the top of the Register, based on the hiring needs of the Foreign Service, you may receive an offer of employment. This often entails relocating to Washington, D.C. with short amount of notice in order to begin training. You may decline the first offer of employment. If you decline a second offer, however, your name will be removed from the Register. In rare cases, such as a military deployment or other overseas obligation to the U.S. government, you may be eligible to defer your appointment. These cases are not common.

New DSS Diplomatic Couriers begin their careers with a six-week orientation program at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, VA. The focus of the orientation is on introducing new employees to the structure and function of the Department and its role in the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy; developing an understanding of the terms of employment; and enhancing core skills needed by all Foreign Service employees.

Selected candidates will complete approximately three weeks of specialized initial training. Specialized training will take place in the Washington, D.C. area. Failure to successfully complete any portion of the training program is grounds for separation.

Join us in delivering world-class security services protecting U.S. interests around the world.

We look forward to receiving your application for the Diplomatic Courier position.

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