Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC)

Summary The Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC) is a non-pay program. The FSFRC was created to improve the efficiency of the hiring process for Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFMs) at overseas posts. Family members who meet the eligibility requirements and are accepted into the FSFRC, will be appointed to a position without compensation or benefits. FSFRC members will then compete for available positions at their sponsoring employee's post overseas. Duties 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. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be able to obtain and maintain a low risk non-sensitive determination. U.S. Citizenship is required. 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’ (PERT/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. Education . Additional information There is a maximum number of applications for this vacancy announcement. The vacancy will close on the closing date listed above or when the maximum number of applications is received. The vacancy will close when the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. No family member will be disadvantaged by the application caps as currently there is no hiring preference at post for FSFRC members. For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at [email protected]. GCLO and Talent Services have created an informative video and slide deck to assist in the application process; you can access these tools at: https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/family-member-employment-in-the-d-c-area/foreign-service-family-reserve-corps/. EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – U.S. law requires organizations to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States - either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated. NOTE:  Former federal employees currently receiving severance pay will have those payments suspended for the duration of this unpaid appointment. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits While in reserve status, you are not eligible to enroll in benefits, such as the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), or the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). Time spent in reserve status is NOT considered creditable for retirement, leave accrual, or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) vesting purposes. You will be eligible to enroll in these programs once you have been selected for and begin working in a local position at a post abroad that conveys benefits eligibility. If you have prior civil service or military service, please submit documentation of the prior service along with your Entry On Duty (EOD) documents to ensure that we update your records accordingly.