22 U.S.C. § 3922b: Public diplomacy training

Summary

Require the Foreign Service to hire and train people who know public diplomacy, mass communications, or journalism. Chiefs of mission must help make public diplomacy plans for their posts and be responsible for how well those efforts work. Training for officers must teach public diplomacy and the tools of mass communication. The Secretary of State must stress these skills when hiring, training, and assigning staff. The Secretary should give hiring priority to such experts, including at middle-level entry, and give special consideration to people with language skills and country or regional experience. The Secretary must also increase officers who speak languages used in countries with predominantly Muslim populations by hiring more and offering incentives.

Title 22, §3922b

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Statement of policy

The following should be the policy of the United States:

(1)The Foreign Service should recruit individuals with expertise and professional experience in public diplomacy.

(2)United States chiefs of mission should have a prominent role in the formulation of public diplomacy strategies for the countries and regions to which they are assigned and should be accountable for the operation and success of public diplomacy efforts at their posts.

(3)Initial and subsequent training of Foreign Service officers should be enhanced to include information and training on public diplomacy and the tools and technology of mass communication.

(b)Personnel

(1)Qualifications

In the recruitment, training, and assignment of members of the Foreign Service, the Secretary of State—

(A)should emphasize the importance of public diplomacy and applicable skills and techniques;

(B)should consider the priority recruitment into the Foreign Service, including at middle-level entry, of individuals with expertise and professional experience in public diplomacy, mass communications, or journalism; and

(C)shall give special consideration to individuals with language facility and experience in particular countries and regions.

(2)Languages of special interest

The Secretary of State shall seek to increase the number of Foreign Service officers proficient in languages spoken in countries with predominantly Muslim populations. Such increase should be accomplished through the recruitment of new officers and incentives for officers in service.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is comprised of section 7110 of Pub. L. 108–458. Subsec. (c) of section 7110 of Pub. L. 108–458 amended section 4003 of this title. Section was enacted as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and also as part of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

§3922b Public Diplomacy Training

Summary

Title 22, §3922b

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata