--- kind: "section" citation: "22 U.S.C. § 4141a" title: "22" title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse" number: "4141a" heading: "Foreign Service Internship Program" release: "119-102" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/4141a" units: - "Chapter 52 — Foreign Service" - "Subchapter XI–A — Foreign Service Internship Program" --- # §4141a. Foreign Service Internship Program - (a) **Establishment—** In consultation with the heads of other [agencies](/usc/22/3902.md?p=2) utilizing the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service system, the Secretary of State shall establish a [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service internship [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) to carry out the objectives of this subchapter in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. - (b) **Foreign Service Internship Program—** The [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) shall introduce interns to the practice of diplomacy and the unique rewards of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service. The [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) shall consist of three successive summer internships of not less than eight weeks duration in each year to be completed over the course of not more than four years. Special emphasis shall be given to preparing the intern for the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service examination process. In each year not less than 10 interns shall enter the [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6). - (c) **Eligibility to participate—** - (1) Students enrolled full-time in institutions of higher education from groups which are underrepresented in the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service in terms of the cultural and ethnic diversity of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service and for whom equal opportunity and affirmative action recruitment efforts have not been successful in achieving balanced representation in appointments to the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service shall be eligible to be interns in [programs](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) under this subchapter. - (2) An intern shall have successfully completed not less than one academic year of study at an institution of higher education to be admitted to the [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6). In each succeeding year of participation an intern shall have completed an additional year of undergraduate or graduate study and shall maintain an exemplary record of academic achievement. - (3) In selecting interns, the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall consider only the ablest students of superior ability selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement and exceptional promise whose academic records reflect the requisite standards of performance necessary for the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service. - (d) **Summer internships—** - (1) The primary focus of the first internship shall be the study of international relations, the [functions](/usc/22/3902.md?p=6) of the Department of State and other [agencies](/usc/22/3902.md?p=2) which utilize the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service system, and the nature of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service. The internship shall be held in Washington, District of Columbia, at the Department of State. As appropriate, the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall utilize the personnel and [facilities](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=8) of the George P. Shultz National [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Affairs [Training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3) Center. - (2) The second internship shall be, principally, an assignment to a specific bureau of the Department of State. Emphasis shall be on providing insight into the economic and political functional areas. - (3) The third internship shall be an assignment to a [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) mission [abroad](/usc/22/3902.md?p=1) in the political or economic area. - (4) The first and second internships may include a detail to the Congress. - (e) **Administration—** The Secretary of State shall determine the academic requirements, other selection criteria, and standards for successful completion of each internship period. The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall be responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of the [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6). - (f) **Mentors—** Each intern shall be assigned a career [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service officer as a mentor. The mentor shall act as a counselor and advisor throughout each summer internship and as a personal [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service contact throughout the period of participation in the [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6). In the assignment of mentors, the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall give preference to [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service officers who volunteer for such assignment and who may be role models for the interns. - (g) **Compensation—** Interns shall be compensated at a rate determined by the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) which shall not be less than the compensation of comparable summer interns at the Department of State. As determined by the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5), for the purposes of travel, housing, health insurance, and other appropriate benefits, interns shall be considered [employees](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service during each internship period. - (h) **Study of Foreign Service examination—** The Secretary of State shall study the feasibility of administering the [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service examination in separate segments over several years. Not later than 180 days after February 16, 1990, the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall submit a report summarizing the findings of such a study to the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Relations of the Senate. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 1202, as added Pub. L. 101–246, title I, § 149(b), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 40; amended Pub. L. 107–132, § 1(b), Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2412.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Codification February 16, 1990, referred to in subsec. (h), was in the original “the date of the enactment of this Act”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101–246, which enacted this subchapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. ### Amendments 2002—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107–132 substituted “George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center” for “Foreign Service Institute”.