Mr. Diplomat

Time flies when you're studying to become a diplomat, and before he knew it My Man was standing to take his oath to become a U.S. Diplomat. 

Actually, it was the second time My Man was sworn in (there is an informal swearing in on the first day), but this time it was a formal ceremony to mark the end of orientation.  The ceremony was at Main State (downtown DC) rather than at FSI where he normally studies.  Deputy Secretary Burns (the #2 guy at State) was the main speaker and the one to administer the oath.  He told some great stories about his early days in the department.

The oath for U.S. diplomats is the same as the one that U.S. Congress members take and is very similar to the oath My Man took as a U.S. Army officer:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

The ceremony was actually a little bittersweet.  The 175th A-100 class will now disperse.  Some are heading off to ConGen (to learn how to be consular officers for their first tour), some are heading off to language training, and some are heading off to their first posts in just a few weeks! 

Afterward, they all had a big celebration to mark the end and the beginning.  My Man felt like we really won the lottery with his first post to Chiang Mai, so he picked up the tab for the first few hours of the party.  (See?  He's already mastered the art of diplomacy.)

So now it's official!  I am married to a very good looking U.S. diplomat.  And he starts Thai classes on Monday.  Wish him luck!