Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC)

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. . 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. While in reserve status, you are not eligible to enroll in benefits, such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), or the Federal Employees 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 confers 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. Complete applications (to include all required documents) must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Online" button to the right. Candidates have until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting the online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section. Candidates are encouraged to complete their applications well before the application deadline to ensure they receive consideration. Should candidates be missing any of the required documents, they will be disqualified for consideration of employment. Please carefully read all of the instructions before you begin the application process. To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a resume, required supporting documentation, and an online application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of State's Gateway to State Automated Application System. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the following three-step application process: STEP 1: Select the "Apply Online" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS. STEP 2: Answer the FSFRC assessment questions online through the Gateway to State automated application system. These questions will be used to evaluate your eligibility to join the FSFRC. Please read these questions carefully before responding. STEP 3: Submit all required documentation, applicable to you, listed in the Required Documents section of this job opportunity to the Department's automated application system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement. For instructions on how to view the status of your supporting documentation, please click here. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET. ALTERNATE APPLICATION PROCEDURES NOTE: If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.