The Foreign Service Journal, March 2007

78 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / MA R CH 2 0 0 7 A F S A N E W S A total of 368 of the 914 USAID AFSA members responded to our December 2006 survey—a very respectable 40-per- cent response rate. About 81 percent were stationed over- seas. Respondents answered29questions about their concerns and priorities for the agency. They were fairly evenly divided by rank: 42percent were FS-3 andbelow; 47percent were FS-1 or FS-2; and 10 percent were Senior Foreign Service officers. WhenaskedwhatAFSA’s toppriorities shouldbe,members said they would like AFSA to continue pursuing locality pay and bet- ter benefits (65 percent), closely followed by fighting for fairness in the assignment/promotions area (63 percent). In fact, 95 percent of the respondents wanted AFSA to pursue overseas locality pay “vigorously.” This will remain AFSA’s major initiative as the new Congress settles in. The third-highest priority (57percent)was to ensure equal ben- efits formembers of all the foreign affairs agencies, as there are cur- rently some glaring inequalities. Among themaredisparities incom- pensation for language training between assignments, difficult-to- staff differentials, travel benefits, student loan reimbursement and USAAmembership. Most members agreed (40 percent) or strongly agreed (28 per- cent) that officers who serve in critical-priority countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan should get some “extra credit.” Still, a sig- nificant 32 percent disagreed with this. AFSA’s stance is that pres- ence alone in a CPC should not be the sole determinant for pro- motion; it must be accompanied by outstanding performance. Although many FSOs mentioned disagreement with the cur- rent policy (50 percent), separation from family (64 percent) was the principal reasonwhy officerswould choose not to volunteer for an assignment in Iraq. Many expressed concern about security (53 percent). Those who have served or would be willing to volunteer (28 percent) are most attracted by the extra pay and benefits (63 percent) and the adventure and challenge (54 percent), as well as the possibility for career enhancement (45 percent). In other areas, respondents highlighted their biggest concerns as the apparent lack of fairness of the assignment system (44 per- WE ASKED, YOU ANSWERED USAID Members Respond to Opinion Poll BY FRANCISCO ZAMORA, AFSA USAID VICE PRESIDENT How would you rate the job that USAID Administrator Randall Tobias is doing? How would you rate the efforts of Ambassador Tobias when it comes to securing resources for the agency and its people? 90% Excellent Good Fair Poor 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 100% 1 26 48 25 1 20 45 34 If you have served in Iraq or would be willing to serve there, what are the motivating factors? (Check all that apply.) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 63 45 54 37 42 Career enhancement Patriotism Extra pay and benefits Living up to worldwide availability Other, please specify 37 Adventure/ challenge By what means do you get information on AFSA activites and efforts? (Check all that apply.) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 24 13 71 88 9 ALDAC cables Foreign Service Journal AFSA News AFSAnet e-mails AFSA Web site Post AFSA rep The USAID AFSA VP Blog (www.afsa.org/ usaid) Word of mouth 27 14 56 33 8 Publishing the Foreign Service Journal Ensuring equal benefits for all foreign affairs agencies What would you like to see as AFSA’s top priorities? Please rate the following in terms of importance to you. Highest priority Medium priority Low priority Should not pursue 66 29 1 5 Lobbying for overseas locality pay and better benefits. Fighting for fairness in assignment/promotions. Assisting members with individual labor management problems, concerns, inequities, disciplinary issues, grievances, etc. Providing services (awards, scholarships, insurance, etc.) Defending the reputation of the Foreign Service and its role on the foreign policymaking process 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 2 63 31 2 47 43 8 9 3 36 52 17 41 6 44 5 34 45 9 3 5