Washington, April 2 : The US State Department has announced major reforms to how it selects and trains its diplomats. The changes aim to prepare the Foreign Service for the challenges of the 21st century.

The overhaul affects both recruitment and training. It puts more weight on core skills and policy knowledge.

Applicants will now be tested on American history, foreign policy concepts, and logical reasoning. The department said it has removed questions â??intended to test alignment with ideological agendas.â??

The Foreign Service Officer Test has been redesigned. The oral exam will now focus on â??substantive knowledge of US foreign policy concepts, diplomatic history, and negotiation skills.â??

The department has also brought back a written examination. It replaces the Qualification Evaluation Panel. Officials said the ability â??to think critically and write clear prose continues to be an essential skill for Foreign Service Officers.â??

Training for new recruits is also being reshaped. The A-100 onboarding programme will now be a â??rigorous and comprehensive basic training programme.â??

New officers will receive instruction in public speaking, negotiation, and leadership. They will attend lectures on economic strategy, commercial diplomacy, and grand strategy.

The curriculum will include readings from American leaders and thinkers. These include George Washington, John Quincy Adams, and James Monroe. It also includes selections from the Federalist Papers and works by George Kennan, Angelo Codevilla, and Samuel Huntington.

The department said it is removing exercises that â??purported to teach communication skills and â??team resilience.â??â?? It cited a â??90-minute activity that required participants to throw objects into a bucket while blindfolded.â?? It added that lecture content on â??bureaucratic tediumâ?? has been reduced.

The reforms also aim to promote talent faster. The department said it is â??reducing barriers to leadership and management roles by emphasising merit in the selection process.â?? It said this will allow strong performers to move into leadership roles earlier.

Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the changes reflect a new approach.

â??The Trump administration is modernising the Foreign Service to prepare Americaâ??s diplomats to advocate for our national interest on a dynamically changing world stage,â?? Pigott said.

â??In this revamped program, Foreign Service Officers will be trained in crucial skills like public speaking and negotiation and engage with international relations theory on topics ranging from commercial diplomacy to grand strategy,â?? he added.

The State Department has opened applications for new candidates. Registration for the test is now open. Exams will be held from May 15 to May 22.

â??The State Department encourages the many patriotic Americans from across the country looking to serve their country to apply to join the Foreign Service,â?? Pigott said.

The Foreign Service is the main diplomatic arm of the United States. Its officers represent US interests abroad and manage ties with other countries.

The service has been updated several times over the decades. These reforms come as Washington faces rising global competition and more complex foreign policy challenges.

/IANS