# Does anyone have any useful information about being a Foreign Service Officer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-any-useful-information-about-being-a-foreign-service-officer/616976 "2012-03-27T20:21:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-any-useful-information-about-being-a-foreign-service-officer/616976/1 "2012-03-27T20:21:59Z")
I’m currently a 44 year old USAF nurse. For various reasons, I’m getting an itch to do something else. I’ll be free to do that next year, at which point I’ll be 45. One of the things I have liked about the military is the whole ‘going other places’ thing, be they good or bad places. One thing they always were, was interesting. And, one of my ancillary interests has been protocol…making the arrangements for visiting dignitaries, etc. It occured to me today that I might make a good diplomat. I don’t know offhand that we have any of those here on the Dope, but if we do, I’d like to hear from you. My primary question now is if my age would hamper me…can a late 40’s woman even hope for a Foreign Service career, or is it a pipe dream? And, of course, I know that there must be considerations I’m not even thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-any-useful-information-about-being-a-foreign-service-officer/616976/2 "2012-03-27T20:40:19Z")
PM’d you, **Lucretia**. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-any-useful-information-about-being-a-foreign-service-officer/616976/3 "2012-03-29T01:21:48Z")
Many of the officer cohort I came in with were over 40 and had had at least one career before joining the Service. I celebrate ten years next month and while it’s been tough at points (Sri Lanka post-2004 tsunami, Afghanistan, etc) I honestly can’t think of something I’d rather be doing. Protocol is just one part of what we do --in all likelihood, you’d be called upon to do at least one and probably 2 consular assignments where you’re the person who gives (or more often, denies) people the chance to go to the U.S. I’ve done three of the five functional “cones” so far, so if you’d like, PM me and I’d be willing to share some of my experiences. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-any-useful-information-about-being-a-foreign-service-officer/616976/4 "2012-03-29T03:32:02Z")
How’s the opportunity to have a family life while doing this career? ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-any-useful-information-about-being-a-foreign-service-officer/616976/5 "2012-03-29T04:35:20Z")
Thanks, **False God** , I will do that. **RandMcnally** , that’s one of the advantages I have. My children are grown, so I don’t have to worry about schools, etc.