The Foreign Service Journal, March 2005

experts. The only question some skeptics raise is whether the former ambassadors in the group are adjust- ing well to their supporting roles. “It’s not a traditionally-staffed post,” says Mark Hambley, a former ambassador to Lebanon. “These are very dedicat- ed professionals, but it might be a bit awkward, too.” Carrots and Sticks At the same time, the burgeoning commitment to Iraq has begun to erode morale among Foreign Service officers world- wide, and sparked squabbling about how resources and accolades are being distributed. Many in the Foreign Service question State’s efforts to fill out the rank-and-file positions in Baghdad. Department officials say recruitment is going well, though public pronouncements on the subject have varied widely. At Amb. Negroponte’s swearing-in last June, Secretary of State Colin Powell noted with pride that over 200 volunteers had already come forward, each submitting an average of seven bids for every posi- tion in the embassy. Later, in congressional testimony, DCM Ricciardone acknowledged that State was relying on new recruits brought on board through Powell’s Diplomatic Readiness Initiative to staff Embassy Baghdad. Coincidentally or not, in December, Foreign Service Director General Robert Pearson unveiled a new policy requiring new Foreign Service officers to serve in hardship posts in order to advance to the Senior Foreign Service. The policy change had been in the works for months, but the timing of the announce- ment fueled suspicions that it was tailored to signal that those who serve in Iraq (as opposed to other danger and hardship posts) will receive disproportionate rewards. One officer at an African post, who asked not to be named, comments: “There have been some strong feelings expressed about [the new State policy], whether or not it is true that Iraq service confers an advantage. Officers serving in other hardship or dan- ger posts feel like Iraq is just another hard post, not the be-all and end-all.” The officer added that he has heard that Foreign Service officers up for new assign- ments this winter have been told they must wait until those coming off Iraq assignments have been placed. It “sounds like some nicer gigs will be off the table for the non-Iraq veterans,” he said. Reinforcing such concerns, a November cable from Foggy Bottom to all diplomatic and con- sular posts reported the promotions of over 50 Foreign Service personnel who either served or were serving in Iraq, including seven who crossed the threshold into the Senior Foreign Service. The cable repeat- ed a message from Amb. Negroponte congratulating those who have served in Iraq on their high promotion rates and quoted approvingly Sec. Powell’s earlier statement that he expected the promotion lists would reflect strong consideration given to service in places like Iraq. In a message to AFSA members, Louise Crane, AFSA’s State vice president, blasted the department for implying that Iraq service gives a boost for promotions. She repeated the association’s traditional position that promotions should be based on performance, not on postings, and noted that many Foreign Service person- nel serve under comparably dangerous or challenging conditions and should be eligible for similar considera- tion. She received over 200 responses to her message from employees around the world, almost all of which were in support of AFSA’s position. The promotion issue aside, the material induce- ments for assignment to Iraq are the best the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development have to offer. Incentives include danger pay and a hardship differential equivalent to a 50- percent salary increase (each is 25 percent), premium pay of 20 percent of salary for officers who don’t receive overtime, two paid 15-day trips back to the United States per 12-month tour, three other five-day trips outside Iraq to surrounding countries per year, more annual leave, subsidized meals, and an additional 10 percent of base pay for Arabic speakers. (Despite such rewards, however, department officials acknowl- edge that Arabic speakers remain in short supply.) Officers are capped at $175,700 per year, but can roll over their danger and hardship pay to the next calendar year. Premium pay cannot be rolled over. F O C U S 20 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A R C H 2 0 0 5 The security situation keeps most U.S. diplomats confined to their compound, severely limiting their contact with Iraqis.