The Foreign Service Journal, January 2008

F O C U S J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 45 could bring back the symptoms for an evening or even a couple of days. Painful as they were, these experiences did not keep me from seeking high-stress assignments. Following Lebanon, I worked on the West Bank/Gaza program for five years. In all the places I served, I noticed that manmade disasters (war, occupation, civil unrest) were taking a huge toll on USAID’s development programs, often throwing all that money and effort right down the drain. What we needed, I came to believe, were interventions to better manage conflict so that our development invest- ments could pay off. With that in mind, I returned to graduate school to study conflict management, eventually obtaining a mas- ter’s degree in the field. It gave me great satisfaction that during my time with the West Bank/Gaza program, I designed and negotiated the first U.S.-funded Palestinian-Israeli Co- operation Program. I went on to become one of USAID’s democracy officers, working to introduce con- flict management into our develop- ment programs. I eventually served again in El Salvador, from 1995 to 1997 (after the war had ended), and in Eritrea. During my last overseas assignment with USAID, in India, I returned to the field of population/family plan- ning. More than two decades after I first experienced PTSD, the symptoms have for the most part passed — except when I am overcome by exhaustion, physical pain, illness or stress. Then I can feel myself slipping back into a bad place. But at least now I recognize what’s happening early and know to give myself the luxury of more sleep and less pressure until I’m back to normal. It helped me a great deal just to know there was a name for what I was feeling. SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2008 represents our 38 th year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com