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Becoming a Foreign Service Special Agent
As a Foreign Service Special Agent for USAID OIG, you will be required to combine your skills
as a criminal investigator with the skills of a seasoned diplomat in order to accomplish the OIG's
mission of fighting fraud, waste and abuse in the programs and operations of USAID, as well as our
other client organizations, throughout the world. A Foreign Service career involves uncommon
commitments and occasional hardships, as well as unique rewards and opportunities. A decision to
enter this career must involve a firm dedication to public service and a strong desire to serve in
the overseas environment.
General Requirements for Employment in the Foreign Service:
- Applicants must be a citizen of the United States.
- Under the Law Enforcement Retirement System, you may retire voluntarily at an early age
with for a special annuity computation if you meet the age and service requirements for 6(c)
retirement. To meet the age and service requirements, you must be at least age 50 at the
time of retirement, and have 20 years of law enforcement service or at any age with 25
years of service.
- You will be subject to mandatory separation based on age if you are occupying a law
enforcement position at age 57 and you have completed the necessary 20 years of service
under the special 6(c) provisions. If you have not completed the 20 years, you will be
separated at the end of the month in which you complete 20 years of law enforcement
service. You must be given a 60-day notice prior to mandatory separation.
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered under the
Military Selective Service Act.
- Applicants must pass medical examination standards which may include a
cardiovascular stress test, that are more rigorous than those of most other
professions.
- Applicants must undergo a thorough background investigation to determine
eligibility for a security clearance, as well as suitability for appointment
into the Foreign Service.
- Applicants must be capable of attaining a certain level of foreign language
proficiency. This can be demonstrated by either language aptitude scores or
evidence of existing proficiency in a foreign language.
- Applicants must be available for and willing to accept assignments throughout
the world, including assignments to Washington, D.C.
- Applicants must be willing to learn to use firearms and other weapons.
- Applicants must agree to work an average of two extra hours per
day, to meet the requirements of law enforcement availability pay (LEAP).
- Applicants must possess a valid U.S. driver's license.
- Applicants must successfully complete the basic criminal investigator
course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or the equivalent
thereof.
Specific Qualifications:
The following qualifications and specialized experience should be reflected in the
application:
√ Ability
to speak a foreign language, or the ability to learn to speak a foreign language,
particularly
in Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashtu, Urdu, or French.
√ Must
have a college degree. Classes in finance, accounting, or law are highly desirable.
Certified
Public Accountants, Certified Fraud Examiners and those with law degrees encouraged
to apply.
√ The
incumbent must have demonstrated experience communicating effectively, orally and
in writing.
√ To
qualify for the FP 08/GS-5 level, applicants must show successful completion of a full
four-year
course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree.
√ To
qualify for the FP 07/GS-7 level, applicants must have a full one-year of graduate-level education
OR one-year
of work experience equivalent to at least GS-5.
√ To
qualify for the FP06/GS-9 level, applicants must have a full two-years of progressively
higher level
graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree OR one-year of work experience
equivalent
to at least GS-7.
√ To
qualify for the FP 05/GS-11 level, applicants must have a full three-years of progressively higher level
graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR one-year of work experience equivalent
to at least GS-9.
√ To
qualify for the FP 04/GS-12 level, applicants must have one-year of work experience equivalent to
at least GS-11.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular
knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully in the duties of the position, and that
is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be credible, specialized
experience must have been equivalent to the next lower grade level in the normal line of
progression for the occupation in the organization.
Benefits:
The Basics:
√ Basic
orientation at time of entrance on duty and subsequent in-service professional training
before the first overseas assignment.
√ Group
life insurance and health benefits programs.
√ Accrual
of annual leave ranging from 13 to 26 working days a year, depending on length of service with
the U.S.
Government.
√ Accrual
of sick leave at 13 working days per year.
√ Locality
pay authorized under certain circumstances.
√ Generous
pension and Thrift Savings Plan similar to 401K benefits.
Additional Benefits When Assigned Overseas:
√ Travel
at government expense for employees and their authorized dependents from Washington D.C. to
and from posts of assignments abroad.
√ Government
quarters and furnishings or housing allowance.
√ Cost
of living allowance at posts where the cost of living is substantially higher than in Washington, D.C.
√ Salary
differential, which is taxable, ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent of base pay at posts where there
are unusual
hardships.
√ Accrual
of home leave at a rate of approximately 15 work-days per year while serving abroad.
√ Paid
round-trip transportation to a rest and recuperation area for employee and authorized
dependents
who are assigned to designated hardship posts.
√ Educational
allowance for minor dependents.
√ Limited
coverage for emergency medical expenses of employees and authorized dependents while
based
overseas.
How to Apply:
All OIG vacancy announcements are posted on the USAJOBS
website managed by the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management as well as on the
OIG Career Opportunities web page.
Questions or problems
regarding this web site should be directed to the OIG
Webmaster, webmasterig@usaid.gov 
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