An attaché is the rank or position of an employee of a diplomatic agency. He is called upon to represent his country in a particular area and to carry out interaction between the relevant departments of the two states. Moreover, additional functions may be assigned to him, depending on his specialization. He has diplomatic immunity.
Attache
In modern world international practice, there are several categories of attachés. It:
- Military. Represent their department, work as advisers on military issues.
- Special Narrow professionals on various issues: industry, finance, agriculture, trade, culture and more.
- Press attaché. They are entrusted with information and press issues.
- Diplomatic. Junior employees of the central apparatus of foreign affairs.
- Honorary. People who have chosen a career as a diplomat, but not yet enlisted in the corps.
During the Thirty Years War, in the seventeenth century, the French government sent several of its officers outside the country. Their task was to communicate with the union state, observe military preparations and collect intelligence information. In the eighteenth century, a military attache as part of the diplomatic service was already a common practice.
General preparation
The requirements in different countries for candidates for this position are different. Upon appointment, they take into account the level of training, the type of troops, language proficiency, work experience, and education. A general rule for all: an attaché is necessarily an officer.
The training of specialists of the military department for further service has the following general principles:
- Mandatory in-depth language training. Depending on the specifics of the place of stay, there can be different levels of knowledge, from minimal, but with perfect English, to an absolute command of the country's language, taking into account local dialects.
- Free orientation in matters of defense and security of the country, knowledge of the structure of the armed forces. Intelligence skills, including special computer training.
- Knowledge of legislation and procedural rules. The ability to perform certain functions of the intelligence plan without breaking the law.
- In-depth knowledge of the host country, its culture, customs, etiquette of behavior. Moreover, such training is not only officers, but also members of their families.
A variety of army representatives are appointed as attachés. There can be any kind of troops . In the American diplomatic corps, the largest staff is several hundred people. At the same time, there may be representatives of the naval, land and air forces.
Responsibilities of the Military Attache
Attache must:
- protect the interests and security of your country;
- represent the military command of their country and communicate with relevant representatives of the host state;
- be a military adviser to the ambassador;
- ensure the promotion of the defense industry market;
- quickly respond to crisis situations and be able to resolve conflict issues that have arisen between countries.
A military attaché is also the person responsible for the security of the ambassador and members of the diplomatic department.