PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TRAINING.

SEC. 7110. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TRAINING.(a) Statement of Policy.—The following should be the policy of the United States:(1) The Foreign Service should recruit individuals with expertise and professional experience in public diplomacy.(2) United States chiefs of mission should have a prominent role in the formulation of public diplomacy strategies for the countries and regions to which they are assigned and should be accountable for the operation and success of public diplomacy efforts at their posts.(3) Initial and subsequent training of Foreign Service officers should be enhanced to include information and training 118 STAT. 3794 on public diplomacy and the tools and technology of mass communication.(b) Personnel.—(1) Qualifications.—In the recruitment, training, and assignment of members of the Foreign Service, the Secretary of State—(A) should emphasize the importance of public diplomacy and applicable skills and techniques;(B) should consider the priority recruitment into the Foreign Service, including at middle-level entry, of individuals with expertise and professional experience in public diplomacy, mass communications, or journalism; and(C) shall give special consideration to individuals with language facility and experience in particular countries and regions.(2) Languages of special interest.—The Secretary of State shall seek to increase the number of Foreign Service officers proficient in languages spoken in countries with predominantly Muslim populations. Such increase should be accomplished through the recruitment of new officers and incentives for officers in service.(c) Public Diplomacy Suggested for Promotion in Foreign Service.—Section 603(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4003(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “The precepts for selection boards shall include, whether the member of the Service or the member of the Senior Foreign Service, as the case may be, has demonstrated—(1) a willingness and ability to explain United States policies in person and through the media when occupying positions for which such willingness and ability is, to any degree, an element of the member’s duties, or(2) other experience in public diplomacy.