As part of the Hometown Diplomats Program, U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officer North Charles spoke to high school and college students, faculty and community members in his hometown of Parsons.
The program is meant to bridge the Department of State and the American people and tell that the role of diplomacy in advancing the national interests of the U.S. The Department of State, also known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a part of the executive branch of the U.S. government, and is the oldest department created.
Charles assured audience members that it operates nothing like movies like “Madame Secretary” or “Long Shot” depict.
Charles has been with the Department of State for seven or eight years and he outlined what the State Department does. He talked about his area, which pertains to regional security, arms transfers, the U.S. defense industry and also explained foreign relations, and why and how the U.S. operates in provision of arms or sales of arms to foreign countries, such as Ukraine.
He then touched on other aspects of the Department of State from representing the U.S. abroad to working with foreign nationals seeking entrance into the U.S. to temporarily work or live.
Charles also spoke about international relations, helping families adopt foreign children and careers in the U.S. State Department.
Charles said he believes it is important to share that an average person like him from Parsons can become a diplomat.
“All you really need to do is have the interest and the drive,” he said.
Charles attended Labette Community College and received his bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of Missouri.
He then went on to serve 30 years in the Army and Army National Guard. He served with Task Force Bastogne, 101st Airborne Division in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, in 2010 and 2011. Charles culminated his service as professor of practice at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, and so for him, like many others, the State Department is a second or third career path.
“You should not believe that because you are not on a typical career path, this might not work out for you,” he said.
He spoke to the audience about potential careers with the Department of State, including: foreign service officers; foreign service specialists, diplomatic security special agents; civil service; Peace Corps, USAID; Marine Security Guards and other agencies; paid internships and fellowships.
He visited with them about making…