Forging a 21st-century diplomatic service for the United States through professional education and training

The report emphasizes that on-the-job training alone is no longer a sufficient method, if it ever was, to develop a US diplomatic service that is second to none. In addition to mastering practical skills and tradecraft, our foreign affairs professionals must be fully capable of operating in a multitude of strategic, analytical, and programmatic environments. Their effectiveness, like that of their military counterparts, should rest on a systematic regime of education, training, and professional preparation, one that is linked to their career advancement. The report recognizes that the international affairs landscape of the 21st century will be characterized by rapid change, emerging challenges, and new sets of issues. If the US is to maintain its leadership, the enhanced education and training of our diplomats and development experts will require an adequate and consistent resource flow. For decades, that flow has been a trickle as compared to the resources devoted to our military, even though the military acknowledges that most international challenges do not have a military solution.