Student Participant Reports

Interning at the State Department

Pay Is Poor But Perks Are Good

By Michael K. Kugler

Last March, while wandering through the maze-like career fair at the Univ. of Texas, I stumbled on the booth for the U.S. Department of State. After about 10 minutes of chit-chat with the representatives, I departed with hope in my heart and Standard Form 171-A in my hand. Six months and a myriad of forms, interviews, and phone calls later I am employed in New York City as an intern with the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN).

The Department of State offers internships in Washington DC and New York during the summer and the spring and fall semesters. The application process is similar to waiting for the announcement of Best Picture at the Academy Awards--long and tedious, with no assurances that your patience through the tap dancing segment or the price of the dress or tux rental will be worth it. But if they call your name, the lights, the cameras, and your picture on your very own U.N. ID badge makes it all worthwhile.

The Political/Military section of the USUN where I work is a liaison between the U.S. Government and the U.N. on peacekeeping issues around the world. Our current hotspots are Haiti, Rwanda, and Liberia. Part of my job entails attending meetings of the Security Council and reporting back to my section on decisions taken and, more importantly, positions of other nations on issues and resolutions. It's been a rather exciting few months, with the "invasion" of Haiti and the recent ruckus over Iraq and Kuwait. I actually sat three chairs back from Tarique Aziz in the Security Council as he all but pounded his shoe on the table Kruschev fashion, demanding the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

The rest of my job mainly entails reading cables addressed to the USUN from the State Department, with instructions for action to the U.S. Ambassador. Occasionally I draft cables to the State Department to report on U.N. peacekeeping related meetings. I also compile and write summaries of reports by the Secretary General and other officials.

The program is an excellent way to get a first-hand look at careers in the U.S. Government as well as those in international relations. Beyond that, it's simply an exciting place to watch world events unfold. During the opening of the General Assembly I attended speeches by foreign dignitaries and heads of state including Clinton, Yeltsin, Aristide, and Mandela. The speeches are designed for the most part to improve public image and relations, but I did get a chance to shake hands with President Clinton.

Currently nine other interns work at the Mission, all at roughly the same stage in their academic careers. They are placed in areas such as Legal Affairs, Host Country, Political, Economic and Social, and Press. Most interns receive some credit from their schools for their time here. I decided that the experience alone would be worthwhile, particularly for future employment in a number of career fields. If nothing else, this is a wonderful opportunity to enhance a resume.

Prospective interns should know that housing is not provided by the State Department, nor does USUN aid in finding a place. Finding housing in New York City for four months is no small (or inexpensive) task.

Also, notification of acceptance to the program comes incredibly late (I received mine at the beginning of August), leaving little time to choose between returning to school and coming to work. The bureaucracy of the system is rather impersonal, and there is no way of knowing what section you will be posted in until you arrive.

All that aside, this is the experience of a lifetime. I hope to take the Foreign Service exam in November and possibly become a Foreign Service Officer after graduation, an option my position here is allowing me to thoroughly explore. The job allows for a close-up look at political intrigues both in and outside of the USUN. It is from here that I begin the long trek toward my eventual role as U.S. Ambassador, Secretary of State, and of course (eventually) the Presidency.

For an application booklet contact: Intern Coordinator, U.S. Department of State.

MICHAEL K. KUGLER lives in Tulsa, OK and attends the Univ. of Texas.