Danger

USAID didn’t work in easy countries. The Agency’s purpose was to help the United States, by helping others, in some of the toughest places in the world. USAID staff lived and worked in those places. In all but the most dangerous assignments, their families were with them, going to school and driving on the local roads. US diplomats, including the ones who served with USAID, are all under the protection of the Embassy’s Regional Security Office, the RSO. Foreign Service Officers usually live in the wealthiest parts of the capital city, under heavy security, and sometimes under surveillance by the local authorities. In the most unsafe locations – places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen – USAID’s foreign service officers went into harm's way, often serving alongside the U.S. military, while their families lived apart. Those separations and risks were hard, but many USAID officers found the work they accomplished and the friendships they made during those unaccompanied tours to be among the most meaningful experiences of their lives. Learn more and get in touch at http://www.itwasneverajob.com/