How do I become a diplomat ?

Contact the State Department and ask them. Or the CIA.

First step is to take the Foreign Service Exam. Based on your score they will rank you for a possible interview.

You can take it annually.

Most diplomats have a university degree in in international relations, political science, economics or law. Here is a site that would be a good starting place for your research.

It seems like being an army member would be a benefit. It will provide pertinent education on the US military. And don’t forget that we are all diplomats for our country whenever we encounter a person from another place or step on foreign soil, no matter what our title is.

You probably need some degree from Harvard, Yale, Columbia etc.
I would go for CIA after your service.
Good move going into the service by the way. You are now officially on the my A team.

Check out the State Department’s website. Here is a link to where they talk about how to become a foreign service officer.

The CIA’s onto us! <jumps out window>

A friend of mine had a husband in the Navy. When they were stationed overseas, there was a sign above the door where you leave the base that said “Remember, you are an ambassador from the United States”. She told me, possibly as a joke, that she now put “former ambassador” on her resume.

Besides IR, political science etc. as mentioned earlier, there are area studies focusing on specific regions of the world like East Asia, South Asia or Central America that would help develop indepth expertise and specific knowledge. You might wish to check out the graduate programs and call the career offices of well-known grad schools in those areas e.g. Columbia U’s SIPA or the Maxwell School at Syracuse U. Knowledge of foreign languages would also be a great benefit

Learn to say what people want to hear but without any real commitment.

Thank you everyone!

My field in the military is Intelligence and I already have an approved Security Clearance(which last 10 years I believe?). So I thought being in the Intelligence field would help me to reach my goal as a Diplomat in the future.

Has anyone ever met one ?

@josie – Thank you, it’s an honor!

@zenvelo – That’s after I get a degree right ?

Would a Master’s degree be good enough to become a diplomat ?

@SoulEscape Yes, you can get into the FS with just a bachelor’s degree. And it does not have to be from an Ivy League school.

Fluency in foreign languages is a huge plus, and fluency in more than one, or in something other than Spanish, French, or Italian is even better.

@SoulEscape Adding upon @zenvelo‘s answer, the NSA has been pushing Chinese and Arabic in schools, so I would assume that those two languages are especially valued.

Check US language requirement. In Canada we have to be bilingual in both English and French to get any diplomatic positions. None the less, you should learn a second language, that will really give you some leverage. Since your in US where everyone speaks Spanish, learn a completely different language that will separate you from the pack

University / College degree is almost a must in my opinion to polish your already Army experience.

Join organizations such as ICD. International Culture Diplomacy group. They have a section Young Leaders of America exchange program. Where you spend a week in DC or in Berlin, meeting ambassadors, delegates, share best practices and learn the tricks of the trade.
http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en

Join if you can, Young Economic Club of your locale.

To be honest and someone can correct if they feel, I think sometimes Army experience can work against you. You get categorized in being a foot solider or ” an order taker”. Unless you go through ranking from Private to Major to General then you become an advisor or an Diplomat. Which can be time intensive.

However, I have been wrong before.

Good luck, hope my two cents will help in some way.