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Conditions of Employment A career in the Foreign Service, perhaps more than any other career, requires flexibility and adaptability. A Foreign Service Officer changes posts every few years, and each new post may require an officer to learn a new language, assume new job responsibilities, adapt to a new culture, and develop new friendships. The Foreign Service takes its conditions of employment seriously, and asks potential Foreign Service Officers to do the same. Candidates who successfully complete the Assessment Center exercises sign a document stating that they understand and accept the Foreign Service's conditions of employment. These conditions of employment are summarized below. Foreign Service Officers must be available for worldwide assignment, including Washington, D.C. Foreign Service Officers must be willing to accept out-of-function assignments and duties, as the needs of the Service demand. Foreign Service Officers must support and defend publicly United States foreign policy. Candidates should carefully consider the implications of these conditions of employment. During their careers, Foreign Service Officers may be asked to serve in hardship posts.  In fact, a majority of Foreign Service posts abroad are in developing countries. Candidates who are willing to serve only in particular regions of the world should not enter the Foreign Service. Furthermore, candidates should remember that Foreign Service Officers serve as representatives of the United States Government abroad. As such, they are spokespeople for the United States and its foreign policy. Although officers are unlikely to have substantial exposure to foreign policy formulation during their initial assignments, they are nevertheless expected to support and defend U.S. policy as defined by the President and Secretary of State, even when it may conflict with personal views.
	The Department of State is committed to equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment for all without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, political affiliation, marital status, or prior statutory, constitutionally protected activity.