The Foreign Service Journal, March 2009

26 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 9 sition at all unaccompanied posts where it is feasible. A CLO must be a U.S.- citizen eligible family member of an employee assigned to post and, in the case of CLO positions at unaccompa- nied posts, may only apply for the job once the employee has been assigned to post. Presently, under certain circumstances employees on TDY to Iraq and Afghanistan may elect to have their fam- ily members remain at their overseas post of assignment during their absence. When this can be arranged, the CLOs at these posts ensure that support, services and, in some cases, supplemental outreach go to families separated by the assignment. Remaining at post often minimizes dis- ruptions to the family, allowing working spouses tomaintain their employment status, ensuring that school-age children have educational continuity, and enabling families to con- tinue to reside in embassy housing. Families with an em- ployee on TDY should be treated no differently than if the direct-hire employee were physically residing at post. In the fall of 2008, theCLO inCairo, in collaborationwith management, published a booklet, “Support for Families Experiencing an Unaccompanied Tour,” outlining the services and support available to sepa- rated families remaining at post. Fami- lies can use this to identify points of contact and procedures for assistance pertaining to medical needs, financial services, mail, telephone, computer access, visas, family member employment, travel, shipping, customs, residential furniture and appliance service, and housing. Parallel guid- ance is issued to each management office that continues to provide support and assistance to the family. In addition to the booklet, CLO Cairo runs a support group called “WhoMovedMy Spouse?” and facilitates dis- semination of FLO information via conference calls and training webcasts. The CLO also maintains a list of UT families in Cairo and ensures that they remain a part of the mission community. FLO has shared both the booklet and the concept of a post-based UT support group with all CLOs around the world as a “best practice.” If a family resides on the local economy at a post to which the employee is not assigned, embassy support is limited by regulatory and legal constraints. Nevertheless, CLOs in- clude these family members on newsletter distribution and invite them to participate inmission activities when possible. I recently heard from a family member living on the local economy about an hour from an embassy. He mentioned how lonely it was not feeling part of that embassy commu- nity. He contacted the CLO and offered to assist in planning outings. He gained a community and the community gain- ed a valuable member. Other Support Mechanisms The Foreign Service Institute has developed new train- ing sessions and enhanced existing courses. With the Of- fice of Medical Services, the FSI Transition Center offers a High-Stress Assignment Outbriefing Program that is mandatory for employees returning after serving more than 90 days in Iraq or Afghanistan. “Working with Employees from High-Stress Posts,” offered by the Leadership and Management School, is a briefing for the colleagues of re- turnees. It is available in three formats: classroom, video- conference and webinar. In addition to FSI’s new DVD, Making Sense of Unac- companied Tours: Insights for Couples , families can request individualized, age-appropriate children’s handbooks with F O C U S Fully Unaccompanied IRAQ: Baghdad* AFGHANISTAN: Kabul* PAKISTAN: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar* SAUDI ARABIA: Jeddah SUDAN: Juba Adult EFMs Only SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh, Dhahran BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Banja Luka KOSOVO: Pristina LEBANON: Beirut LIBERIA: Monrovia REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Brazzaville SUDAN: Khartoum CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Bangui COTE D’IVOIRE: Abidjan CHAD: N’Djamena Adult EFMs and Minors under Age 5 YEMEN: Sanaa (no school-age children accompaniment) ALGERIA: Algiers *Adult EFM accompaniment authorized pending Under Secretary for Manage- ment’s approval on a case-by-case basis (must secure employment at mission) List of Unaccompanied Posts (as of Feb. 1, 2009) FLO is always looking for ways to connect this geographically dispersed community.