Computer Guidance

Account Transfers

If you currently have or recently held a Department of State email account, please contact the IT team at your current or most recent State Department bureau (domestic) or post (overseas) and ask them to prepare your account for transfer by removing your roles and placing your account in the "Transfer OU." (Note: In some "consolidated" domestic bureaus, your IT team may inform you that these preparations are not required).    You do not need to submit an IT Service Center account transfer request.  The Orientation Division will submit a request on your behalf after receiving your pre-orientation survey.

The Diplomatic Technology (DT) Bureau requires Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) to approve the transfer of accounts held by third-party contractors.  If you are a third-party contractor or were a third-party contractor when you last used your state.gov account, and you wish to transfer your account, your COR must write to FSOrientation@state.gov by the survey due date, identify themselves as the COR, and state that they "approve the release of the account and any associated data."  If you are a third-party contractor and prefer to receive a new account, no additional action is necessary.  (Note: Third-party contractors are those who do not have a direct employer-employee relationship with the U.S. government.) 

Accounts that have been inactive for significant periods may be deleted or otherwise unavailable for transfer. If your account cannot be transferred, Orientation will request a new account for you.  We will inform DT of your previous or current username in case they are able to use it for your new account.  

Delays in preparing accounts for transfer or submitting the pre-orientation survey can affect access to course materials.  If you have questions about transferring your account, please contact FSOrientation@state.gov. 

Computers

The Department of State will enroll Foreign Service Orientation participants in the Tech for Life Program.  You will receive a State Department laptop during the first week of Orientation to use throughout training.  The program can provide a mouse upon request.  Please disregard any emails about scheduling pickup for your Tech for Life devices; you will receive them immediately after your badging appointment during the first week of Orientation.  

If you are assigned to a post that does not accept Tech for Life devices, you will return the laptop before departing.  If this is the case, the Tech for Life team will notify you.  Otherwise, you will be able to take your laptop with you to post. 

Further details about your Tech for Life computer are available here.