The Training Review Session was developed in coordination with the Educational Testing Service and with support from the recruitment offices of the State Department. Informational and recruitment publications are used to help inform African Americans of the opportunities that taking the Foreign Service Examination presents. By doing this, we will help make careers in the U.S. Foreign Service available to more and more African-American and other Foreign Service Officer candidates. The activities of the ICP are designed to infuse the local community with international perspectives and to make students and working professionals more competitive in international careers. Participants expand their knowledge and sensitivity toward international issues affecting Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean and are exposed to the process of making foreign policy.
Participants also strengthen their organizational, administrative, and public speaking skills.
With particular emphasis on the involvement of African-American students and young professionals, this program builds a foundation for their informed participation in future foreign policy debates in order to enhance examination performance. The need for such a training program has been clearly demonstrated over the years. The national pass rate on the Foreign Service Examination is 20 percent for whites and only 4 to 6 percent for African Americans. In addition to the materials covered during the review, candidates are provided with an opportunity to interact with new Foreign Service Officers who are eager to share their insights with others, and a former Assessment Center Examiner who gives candidates the most accurate tips on how best to prepare for the oral examination. The review sessions are held approximately one month prior to the Foreign Service Examination and are devoted to covering sections of the examination outlined in the State Department's Application for the Foreign Service Officer Examination.