The Foreign Service Journal, March 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2021 49 Leverage State’s Greatest Asset— Its People Here are some suggestions for the new administration’s first 100 days. Empower Foreign Service leadership . The new administra- tion can turn a page in U.S. diplomacy by elevating more career diplomats to key leadership positions. The multifaceted experi- ence of career diplomats will prove useful in navigating the multidimensional challenges of the world today. Career diplomats will know how to shepherd the policies of the new administration and retain its institutional knowledge for continuity. Appointing career diplomats to leadership posi- tions would also boost morale, as the men and women of the State Department see the professional rewards of embracing a lifelong career. Lead with the face of America. To expand workforce diversity at the State Department, the incoming administration can begin with vertical and horizontal promotions of women and minorities already at the agency. This would be a pragmatic and feasible way to jump-start workforce diversity initiatives prior to implementing alternatives that may require more time and effort through legisla- tion or executive order. By tapping into the State Department’s diversity first, the new administration will begin to unlock the full depth of talent within the agency. Staff national security missions to win. The new administra- tion can signal strong support for diplomacy by prioritizing the staffing of diplomats at posts critical to U.S. national security (e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan). Though uncertainty will always prevail in countries characterized by weak stability and security, staff- ing fluctuations at these posts are sometimes the result of U.S. policy prerogatives rather than in-country crises. Some of the missions, in countries deemed “unwinnable” by military means per U.S. military experts, have experienced downsizing/rightsizing exercises, cutting FSOs and ejecting them before or during their in-country service. Like many Foreign Service colleagues, I have experienced such policies and witnessed their unintended consequences. Whether the new administration seeks to withdraw or surge U.S. personnel, it should, when possible, adopt a phased- or conditions-based staffing approach to minimize disruptions to missions working on U.S. national security matters. FSO Felix Sanchez is currently on leave without pay. Institute a Language Requirement for Entry You don’t need to know a foreign language to enter the For- eign Service. We will teach you. The rationale for this policy goes back to the time of the Rogers Act of 1924 and after, when generally only wealthy Americans had the opportunity to learn foreign languages, and we wanted to draw officers from a broader pool. During the past century, as more and more people came to speak English, the need for a foreign language was apparently diminishing. I think it is past time, however, to do what most other diplo- matic services have always done, and that is to make language ability and knowledge a requirement for entry into the Foreign Service (in addition, of course, to the other requirements such as the written exam, oral interview, good health, etc.). Specifically, to enter the Foreign Service, an individual must have at least a 4/4 in a world language or a 3+/4 in a hard lan- guage. Many more Americans now possess those levels of fluency in a foreign language, either because they are immigrants or the children of immigrants, because of service in the Peace Corps or because of study abroad. A more than minimum level of fluency in another language will make themmore effective diplomats and, in particular, will make it much easier to reach foreign nationals who do not speak English. Retired FSO Robert E. Service is a reemployed annuitant in the State Department’s Office of Management Strategy and Solutions. Embrace Constructive Dissent We write this note in defense of dissent, affirming our belief that it contributes to a stronger diplomatic corps—and a safer world. It is vitally important that the new administration promote constructive dissent for its value in the development and imple- mentation of effective foreign policy. Foreign Service Act