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March 2024

The Foreign Service Journal covers foreign affairs from an insider’s perspective, providing thought-provoking articles on international issues, the practice of diplomacy, and the U.S. Foreign Service. Including the AFSA News section, The Journal is published monthly (January-February and July-August issues combined) by the American Foreign Service Association.

The March issue focuses on Foreign Service oral histories.

We always welcome short, focused letters about FSJ content; please send them to journal@afsa.org.

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FOCUS ON ORAL HISTORIES

A Century of Service: Firsthand Accounts from U.S. Diplomats

BY TOM SELINGER, ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING

Diplomatic Security Service: Early Days

The Diplomatic Security Service has collected a wealth of personal stories from Foreign Service specialists across the decades—and they are now available to the public.

BY ANGELA FRENCH, DIPLOMATIC SECURITY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE

A Look at the New Learning Policy: How, When, and Where Do State Department Employees Learn?

The Learning Policy is intended to stimulate a culture shift around learning and training at the State Department.

BY SARAH WARDWELL

FEATURE

Pomelo Diplomacy

Through the pomelo, the quintessential Thai fruit, the U.S. and Thailand recently celebrated almost two centuries of collaboration.

BY MARC GILKEY

PERSPECTIVES

President’s Views

Promoting All Aspects of Diversity

BY TOM YAZDGERDI

Letter from the Editor

Let’s Talk About the Mail

BY SHAWN DORMAN

Speaking Out

Needed: A New Approach to Protecting America’s Diplomatic Treasures

BY GLYN DAVIES

Reflections

Serving at the Panda Post

BY DOUG KELLY

Local Lens

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

BY CAROLE FENTON

DEPARTMENTS

AFSA NEWS

State VP Voice

Spotlight on EERs and the New Scoring Rubric

BY HUI JUN TINA WONG

USAID VP Voice

Promotion Evaluation Reforms

BY RANDY CHESTER

FCS VP Voice

Signs of a Spring Thaw?

BY JOSHUA BURKE

Retiree VP Voice

Esprit de Corps

BY JOHN K. NALAND

AFSA on the Hill

Third Year of Robust Authorization Acts

BY KIM GREENPLATE