The Foreign Service Journal, January 2005

tions cheapens those very promotions. Following are excerpts from the Nov. 15 AFSANET (the full text is at www.afsa.org/StateVP): “This week, the department sent out an ALDAC, which, because this is a fam- ily newspaper, AFSA will describe as ‘unfortunate.’ State 239051 contains a message from John D. Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad. Ambassador Negroponte notes that the Secretary had earlier written (State 207935) that he expected that the pro- motion lists would reflect strong consid- eration given to service in places like Iraq. Amb. Negroponte now notes that over 50 employees who either served or are serving in Iraq were promoted, includ- ing seven who crossed the senior thresh- old. “Had AFSA been asked, we would not have cleared this cable. Earlier, AFSA remonstrated in private with manage- ment over those sentiments uttered by the Secretary when he wrote in State 207935: ‘I am fully confident that service at our posts in Iraq will be recognized in both the promotion and assignments process.’ Now we are raising our objec- tions publicly. “The earlier cable and this one imply that service in Iraq gives one a substan- tial boost up the promotion ladder. They categorically state that service in Iraq will reward you with your bid preference. These cables are advertising, overselling Iraq service and making promises that cannot be kept, in the hopemembers will be enticed into bidding on positions in Iraq because of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. “The problemwith this advertising is that it corrupts the Foreign Service. It devalues the substantive work you do elsewhere. It demeans the service and sacrifice of our members in places like Haiti, where families have suffered through two authorized/ordered depar- tures in less than a year. … “AFSA has not only heard from those serving under rigorous conditions, but also from one of those with Iraq service who was promoted this year. He wrote that Amb. Negroponte’s cable implies that it was going to Baghdad that earned them the promotions, that there is a rela- tionship between serving in Iraq and get- ting promoted. Meanwhile, one CDO sent Amb. Negroponte’s cable out to all his clients with this note: ‘For those of you bidding or hearing frompeople whowish to serve at your posts, be advised that preference is given to those who have served as outlined (in the cable).’ Sounds like management has already made this an SOP. Well, AFSA looks forward to the next negotiations, but we have not waited to lodge our strenuous protest withmanagement on behalf of ourmem- bers. “Now, here is where AFSA stands on this issue. Promotions must be based on your performance, not your assign- ment. … There are many reasons why members of the Foreign Service are not in Baghdad. … As for hardship service, we all signed on as worldwide available and over half our overseas posts are clas- sified at the 15-percent hardship level and higher. Hardship service is part and par- cel of being in the Foreign Service which is why AFSA supports rigorous ‘fair share.’ As for promotions, the pre- cepts are clear: we recognize service under difficult and dangerous conditions. No more and no less. “Finally, if you want to bid on a posi- tion in Iraq, fair enough. But please do so with your eyes open and do not be deceived by false advertising. To quote from the message to AFSA from the member who was promoted. ‘We need the best people in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and the other hot spots because that’s where the most critical work is — not because of easy promo- tions.’” Supporting the VP’s statement, AFSA President John Limbert said in his own message to members: “… As someone who did two TDYs in Iraq during the past 18 months, I find the implicit message of the cable (State 239051) — that service in Iraq will give you a boost for promotion and assign- ment—disappointing. I never met any- one serving in Iraq who had been tempted by such false promises. We serve in Iraq formany reasons, including career advancement, but the department should not be presenting such assignments as something that will lead to promotions and desired assignments. All of our col- leagues who received promotions did so on the basis of outstanding performance, often under difficult and dangerous con- ditions, not as part of any ‘deal’ or quid pro quo. To suggest or hint otherwise is false advertising.” ▫ Continued from page 2 Support the LAF As we head into the 109th Congress, please consider making a contribution to AFSA’s Legislative Action Fund. AFSA is the only organization actively seeking to protect and improve Foreign Service benefits. Please mail your contribution to AFSA Legislative Action Fund, PO Box 98026, Washington, DC 20090-8026. (Make checks payable to AFSA Legislative Action Fund.) Please help AFSA push Foreign Service priorities on the Hill by giving generously to the LAF. Served in Afghanistan? TheAssociation forDiplomatic Studies and Training, at the request of the U.S. Institute for Peace, is interviewing person- nel who have served in Afghanistan on Provincial ReconstructionTeams, orwho otherwise have experiencewith the teams. The goal of the current project is to glean lessons learned fromU.S. government per- sonnel (civilian and military) and others, such as foreign officials and NGO repre- sentatives. If you would consider being inter- viewed, or if you know someone who would be a good candidate for an inter- view, please contact ADST Executive Director Jack Zetkulic at (703) 302-6991 or jzetkulic@adst.org. Continued on page 8 JANUARY 2005 • AFSA NEWS 7 Iraq Service • Continued from page 1 AFSA NEWS BRIEFS