The Foreign Service Journal, March 2006

The Defense Department pre- fers not to have a military draft because it is easier to work with true volunteers. A lot of flexibility and tol- erance is required for Iraq service, something likely to be in shorter sup- ply among directed assignees. Our country is divided over the adminis- tration’s Iraq policy, and I believe this division is reflected to some extent within the Foreign Service. Senior-level FSO who has served in Iraq u I have no problem with directed assignments. Officers who have the skills and background required to do the job out here should be required to serve, particularly those who have not served in a hardship post. [For those] who have Arabic but who have not served in Iraq, [it is] time to repay the investment the department made in their language training. Mid-level FSO who has served in Iraq u If the administration or Congress want us to involuntarily serve in com- bat areas, then we should go through boot camp, be issued weapons and protective uniforms, receive combat pay and other analogous benefits pro- vided to the military, etc. — and receive the respect and honor accorded to the military (which the FS does not ordinarily receive). Senior-level FSO u Stand by for LOTS of attendees at upcoming retire- ment seminars. Diplomatic Security agent who has served in Iraq F O C U S M A R C H 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 47 If the administration or Congress want us to involuntarily serve in combat areas, then we should go through boot camp. Continued from page 44 T HE R EMINGTON