The Foreign Service Journal, April 2004

A swework closelywith the ForeignCommercial Service on priority issues for 2004, I amconvinced that funda- mental reforms are needed for both our mission and organizational structure. Ourprograms continue tobeanchored toodeeply in the last century. Staff resources are allocatedmuch as theywere 20 years agodespitemajor changes in globalmar- kets. Internally, we need to address structural problems that have long plagued the Office of Foreign Service Human Resources, diminish- ing our ability to recruit and support staff. In the areaof humanresources, unfortunate- ly it ismore apparent than ever that the Foreign Commercial Service and its personnel system remain misunderstood. FCS is a separate and unequal part of the overall structure of the Commerce Department. Delayed action on the issue of Senior Foreign Service pay adjustments in January is illustrative. FCS, State, FAS and USAIDmanagement worked tirelessly to achieve a timely and equitable solution. All but FCS were successful by the Jan. 11 implemen- tation date. FCSmanagement was just as committed to finding an equitable solution, yet the culture and structure of decision-making at Commerce didnot allow for a time- lydecisiononan issuewhere a consensus viewhadbeen reached easily at the other agen- cies. I ampleased to report that the agency did eventually succeed: a similar result was obtained fromtheCommerceDepartment twoweeks after the other agencies hadacted. The lengthy processing of annual selection board decisions also illustrates the need for change. State Department results were announced inOctober 2003 and approved and implementedby the endofDecember. FCS resultswere alsoannounced inOctober, but are still not implemented as I write in February. Our new precepts and management systems were approved in January, five years afterworkbegan. FCSmanagement andAFSAare committed toprogress in the human resource area but remain hampered by a system and culture that has yet to learn how to manage a Foreign Service system almost a quarter-century after it was transferred from the State Department. Individuals are committed, but only fundamental reform can fix this sad situation. We look forward to working with our new director general to undertake such reforms. As for commercial diplomacy, our programs and organizational structure call out for a fundamental review. The intense globalization process of the last decade has cre- ated new opportunities and challenges for our economic groups. Support for invest- ment and the appropriate role for the federal government in regulatory policy advo- cacy are topics that have not been well debated. This is an increasingly urgent task, if only tobetter respond to thepractices of competitor countries.We look forward towork- ing closely with interested parties in designing a new policy framework. I can close with a note of hope: FCS management and AFSA start out 2004 having eliminated amultiyear backlog of issues. We have started with a clean slate and a con- structive attitude for a strong, collaborative relationship. As our FCS AFSAmember- shipapproaches 200 (close to90percent of our officer corps), I amconvinced thatwork- ing togetherwithour newdirector general and seniormanagement we can address this call for fundamental reform. ▫ FCS is a separate and unequal part of the overall structure of the Commerce Department. V.P. VOICE: FCS BY CHARLES FORD A Call for Fundamental Change 4 AFSA NEWS • APRIL 2004 “Asforourfirst-tourconsularcolleagues, they deserve special respect for staffing the front lines of America’s defense. One used tobeable tosay, ‘If Imakeamistakeonthis visa, the sky will not fall.’ Now it just may. Thereisalsoaspiritthatnowrecognizesthe importanceofwhatthesecolleaguesdoand theimportanceofsupportingthemwiththe right training, assignments and leadership. “Irecallinparticularmeetingafirst-tour consular officer froma busy Francophone post. He joined the Foreign Service after a distinguished career elsewhere, and said, ‘I think I’ve finally found what I love to do. I’mactuallydisappointedwhenwehavetoo fewvisaapplicants andwe finish toosoon.’ Now that is dedication! “We want all new-entry professionals toknowthatAFSAis there tohelp. If there is noAFSArepresentative at your post, we encourage you to volunteer to be one. Duringmy visit, I heard fromseveral peo- plewhohaddifficulty getting a postman- agement official to pay attention to their problems. In such cases, the AFSA repre- sentative is your best spokesperson. In other cases, individuals can always phone or e-mail theWashingtonAFSAoffices for advice.” ▫ Limbert Trip • Continued from page 1 Foreign Service Day • Continued from page 1 Come with AFSA to Capitol Hill In connection with Foreign Affairs Day, AFSAwill hold its fourthannual “Day on theHill”programonThursday,May 6. AFSAencouragesretireestojoinusforavisit to Capitol Hill tomeet with congressional representatives and staff. This event pro- vides a unique opportunity for retirees to confer with key legislators and discuss Foreign Service and foreign affairs issues. Addyour voice toAFSA’s in support of the Foreign Service. AFSAis sendingout invitations for “Day on the Hill” to Foreign Service retirees (members and non-members). Formore information, sendane-mail toAustinTracy at tracy@afsa.org, or call him toll-free at 1(800) 704-2372, ext. 506. ▫