---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 3903"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "3903"
heading: "Members of Service"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/3903"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Foreign Service"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §3903. Members of Service


The following are the members of the Service:

- (1) Chiefs of mission, appointed under [section 3942(a)(1) of this title](/usc/22/3942.md?p=a-1) or assigned under [section 3982(c) of this title](/usc/22/3982.md?p=c).
- (2) Ambassadors at large, appointed under [section 3942(a)(1) of this title](/usc/22/3942.md?p=a-1).
- (3) Members of the Senior Foreign Service, appointed under section [3942(a)(1)](/usc/22/3942.md?p=a-1) or [3943](/usc/22/3943.md) of this title, who are the corps of leaders and experts for the management of the Service and the performance of its [functions](/usc/22/3902.md?p=6).
- (4) Foreign Service officers, appointed under [section 3942(a)(1) of this title](/usc/22/3942.md?p=a-1), who have general responsibility for carrying out the [functions](/usc/22/3902.md?p=6) of the Service.
- (5) Foreign Service personnel, United States citizens appointed under [section 3943 of this title](/usc/22/3943.md), who provide skills and services required for effective performance by the Service.
- (6) Foreign national employees, foreign nationals appointed under [section 3943 of this title](/usc/22/3943.md), who provide clerical, administrative, technical, fiscal, and other [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) at Foreign Service posts [abroad](/usc/22/3902.md?p=1).
- (7) Consular agents, appointed under [section 3943 of this title](/usc/22/3943.md) by the Secretary of State, who provide consular and related services as authorized by the Secretary of State at specified locations [abroad](/usc/22/3902.md?p=1) where no Foreign Service posts are situated.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 103, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2076.)