<p>i am not 100% sure but i believe you have to have a college degree to be in the foreign service (this does not apply for some of the other branches of government though). that is because you are representing the USA (!) and i'm sure the United States government would like a college educated individual to do that. </p>
<p>on 2nd thought regarding the languages, i still think you'll end up in a hardship spot first regardless of what language you speak. i've read a few profiles of some people in the foreign service and all of them have served in a hardship area and all of them learned a 2nd/3rd/4th/5th foreign language that they probably picked up from the foreign service and not through college. however, upon completing your assignment in the hardship area, then they will probably move you over to somewhere where you can utilize your primary foreign language. the exception would be if the place of your primary foreign language becomes a hotspot.</p>