Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC)

Clarification from the agency

Appointment eligible family members who are: 1.U.S. Citizens; 2.The spouse or domestic partner of a sponsoring employee; and 3.On the sponsoring employee's HR/EX approved OF-126 OR on the sponsoring employee's official travel orders (AUTHORIZED ONLY) to a US Mission abroad under Chief of Mission authority (to include an office of the AIT), OR have an Agency provided letter stating that their sponsoring employee is expected to serve at a US. Mission abroad under Chief of Mission authority.

There are no major duties associated with this vacancy announcement as it is not associated with any one job series code.  Duties will be determined when an AEFM applies and is selected for a local position at post.  If selected, they will be appointed to the local position and will receive a salary based on the grade of the position and benefits (if applicable) when they begin working.  Family members who join the FSFRC will be permitted to remain in the FSFRC as long as they continue to meet program eligibility requirements, respond to recertification requests, and reinvestigation requests from Diplomatic Security.

The FSFRC, in and of itself, will not create additional employment opportunities or positions overseas, nor will it provide an independent pathway to gain a security clearance.  Being a member of the FSFRC does not guarantee employment.  FSFRC applicants without a clearance will be required to submit an SF-85 upon acceptance of their application.  Once they receive a Low Risk/Non-Sensitive (LRNS) determination they will be appointed into the FSFRC.  If they are selected for an overseas position that requires access to classified information, they will be required to obtain the required security clearance prior to being appointed to that position.  Members will remain in the FSFRC in an unpaid reserve status when they are not working in a local position at post.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a low risk non-sensitive determination.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.

An individual who meets all the following criteria is eligible to apply for membership in the FSFRC: 1. Is a U.S. citizen; and 2. Is the spouse or domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) of a sponsoring employee (i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member); and 3. Is either: a). Listed on an approved OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report (or Foreign Affairs Agency equivalent), of a sponsoring employee; or b). Listed on the current travel orders (TMFOUR or agency equivalent) of a sponsoring employee for a post abroad at a U.S. mission under Chief of Mission authority including an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT); or c). Has a letter from the sponsoring employee’s agency's executive office stating that you are their spouse or domestic partner, that the sponsoring employee is expected to serve at an overseas post under Chief of Mission authority including an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) within the next 12 months, and that you will accompany the sponsoring employee.  NOTE: The Chief of Mission is in charge of all Executive Branch activities and operations and is fully responsible for the direction, coordination, and supervision of all U.S. Executive Branch employees, regardless of their employment categories or location, except those under command of a U.S. area military commander or on the staff of an international organization.  Family Members whose sponsoring employee is under the command of a U.S. area military commander are not eligible for the FSFRC.  4. Does not receive a U.S. Government retirement annuity or pension from a career in the U.S. Foreign Service or Civil Service; and 5. Is not a Foreign Service Officer in Leave Without Pay (LWOP) status.  NOTE: Currently, eligible family members currently employed on a Personal Services Agreement (PSA) will be unable to apply for membership due to limitations of the current pay system.  6. Is not a Civil Service employee with re-employment rights to their agency or bureau.  NOTE: U.S. citizen spouses/domestic partners who are on approved Voluntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (VSMA) or Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) and are temporarily residing apart from the sponsoring employee are also eligible to join the FSFRC in non-paid status.  However, they may begin working in a local assignment only when they resume residing with the sponsoring employee.

Qualifications

Applicants will be evaluated based solely on FSFRC Program eligibility requirements using agency-developed standards.  Applicants who meet the program requirements will be accepted as members into the FSFRC.  NOTE: If it is determined that you do not meet program eligibility requirements or if you fail to submit proper documentation in a timely manner, you will be removed from consideration.  FSFRC Members in Categories One or Two will be required to complete a recertification process on an annual basis when not actively working in a local position at post.   All members will be required to recertify for the program every five (5) years.  The FSFRC member will be required to respond to security reinvestigation requests from Diplomatic Security (DS).  The FSFRC appointment will terminate if the member no longer qualifies for the FSFRC or does not respond to the Talent Services’ (HR/TS) recertification query within the required timeline.  FSFRC members must notify TS of any event (such as divorce, etc.) which may result in a loss of eligibility for the program.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Family members who meet the eligibility requirements stated above will be able to apply for FSFRC membership.  Family members who join the FSFRC will have their FSFRC membership category verified by Diplomatic Security (DS) and will be appointed by Talent Services (HR/TS) to one of three categories based on their current or most recent security clearance:

Category One for those with a current Top Secret clearance or those eligible for reciprocity consideration for a recent Top Secret clearance;

Category Two for those with a current Secret clearance or those eligible for reciprocity consideration for a recent Secret clearance; or

Category Three for those with a Low Risk/Non-Sensitive (LRNS), Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT), or High Risk Public Trust (HRPT) determination -- members in this category do not hold a valid security clearance or are not eligible for reciprocity consideration for a previous clearance.  This includes those who are not currently employed by the Department or those who are working in non-sensitive positions.

Regardless of category, FSFRC members will be eligible to apply for local assignments overseas where the sponsoring employee is assigned.  If selected for a local assignment that requires access to classified information, FSFRC members who do not already hold the required level of clearance will begin the security clearance process.

Important Notice:  As a member of the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC), you are considered an active State Department employee even while not employed at post.  As an active security clearance holder, you are subject to Continuous Vetting (CV), which means that you are subject to real-time monitoring by Diplomatic Security.  CV is a process that involves regularly reviewing a cleared individual’s background to ensure they continue to meet security clearance requirements and should continue to hold positions of trust.

Resume AND Approved OF-126-Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report or your sponsor's Agency equivalent for non-DoS employees  OR Current Travel Authorization (TMFOUR or Agency equivalent) of Sponsoring Employee (TMOne Assignment Notifications do not meet this requirement).

Note to EFMs whose sponsoring employee is either a U.S. Department of State civil service employee or is not employed by Department of State:  If you are unable to provide a travel authorization clearly reflecting an upcoming future tour at a U.S. Mission overseas under Chief of Mission authority, including to an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), you will need to provide written certification (official letter or memo) from your sponsoring employee's Agency's executive office affirming there is an expectation to serve future tours at U.S. Missions overseas under Chief of Mission authority (see Requirements section for additional information) within the next 12 months. Documentation will need to clearly reflect that you are listed as an eligible dependent expected to accompany your sponsoring employee.

As noted above, assignment notifications do not meet this requirement. 

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