The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2022

14 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Praise for FSOs You’re going to, probably for the first time in your lives, work in a very in- depth way with America’s talented Foreign Service officers. As a member of this committee [SFRC], I travel around the world, and I’m always struck by the tremendous talent and patriotism of those that we have serving us abroad. And so should you be confirmed, that might be the most memorable and impactful part of your job: interacting with these great professionals. —Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), speaking to political ambassador nominees during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing, Nov. 2, 2021. Leadership at Post Amid Challenges I appreciate the willingness of the nominees to serve our country in foreign posts, particularly at such a critical time. We face a number of challenges, some among friends deciding how we can collaborate to be stronger, but some relate to other nations. Russia, in particular, poses an ongoing threat; China has set its tentacles into Europe and intends to become the leader of the world in mil- itary and economic terms. The work that we anticipate doing together with our friends and allies around the world is of critical importance. —Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing, Nov. 2, 2021. Professional Development for Diplomats Many of the most serious interna- tional challenges the United States faces in 2021 will require State Department personnel to take the lead. …We must strengthen the pro- fessionalism of our diplomats through a vastly expanded careerlong pro- gram of education and training that focuses on the mastery of substan- tive foreign policy issues and leader- ship. The State Department must be seen as the lead agency in executing American foreign policy overseas, ensuring that each chief of mission role is clear, paramount, safeguarded and unsalable. —Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), in opening remarks at the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing, “Training the Department of State’s Workforce for 21st Century Diplomacy,” Nov. 2, 2021. More Training at State We can all agree that the develop- ment of our diplomats, their educa- tion, their training, their profession- alization must be among the highest priorities for the State Department, which attracts some of the most tal- ented individuals in the U.S. govern- ment. According to a study, people join the State Department, on aver- age, with a graduate education and 11 years of work experience. Yet the same study noted that State—and I quote—“treats education as a prereq- uisite for hiring and not a continuing requirement to prepare personnel for their subsequent responsibilities.” When diplomats come in the door, they’re treated as though they have the knowledge and skill necessary for the profession, yet really what they depend on in terms of their leader- ship instruction is mentoring from senior diplomats. —Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), at the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing, “Training the Department of State’s Workforce for 21st Century Diplomacy,” Nov. 2, 2021. Supporting the Diplomatic Corps In our interconnected and interde- pendent world, diplomacy is one of the sharpest foreign affairs tools we have at our disposal, and we must use that tool wisely. But sharpening those tools requires that we rededicate ourselves to the mission of defending and supporting our Foreign Service officers and all others on the front lines of diplomacy. Across the globe these Americans, like our military, work tirelessly to protect and pro- mote America’s interests, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. —Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), in his keynote address to the Oct. 14 online 25th anniversary celebration of the American Diplomacy journal, “How Does U.S. Diplomacy Benefit Americans?” HEARD ON THE HILL JOSH