AFSA NEWS 78 APRIL-MAY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA Welcomes New Members On Feb. 13, AFSA welcomed the 231 members of the January 2025 Foreign Service Orientation Class. Because of heavy snow in the Washington, D.C., area at the time, AFSA engaged with the incoming class through three virtual sessions, during which AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi, AFSA State VP Tina Wong outlined AFSA’s advocacy efforts and shared the benefits of AFSA membership. After the presentation they answered questions from the attendees. This class includes 20 returned Peace Corps volunteers, nine foreign language and area studies fellows, six Presidential Management Fellows, four Fellows, two Rangel Fellows, and two Foreign Affairs IT Fellows. Fifty-two percent are generalists and 48 percent are specialists, with backgrounds spanning law, medicine, finance, security, technology, and federal service. Nearly 60 percent hold master’s degrees, and many have prior State Department experience. Class members bring a variety of unique experiences, including: performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, spending a year at the South Pole, hiking through Siberia, working as a historical reenactor, and competing in the Paralympics. AFSA remains committed to supporting all these new hires as as they uphold the highest standards of the Foreign Service, ensuring that America’s diplomatic presence remains strong, principled, and effective. Due to the current federal hiring freeze, plans for the April orientation class have changed. Job offers for generalists (FSOs) have been rescinded while specialists (FSS) will still be brought on board. AFSA understands the incoming April class will now consist of specialists only. AFSA looks forward to the lifting of the hiring freeze. n AFSA Governing Board Meeting, January 15, 2025 At its first meeting of 2025, the board announced the beginning of the 2025 Governing Board election cycle. The board discussed the cancellation of the March 10 orientation class for limited career appointments due to the federal hiring freeze. n
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