The Foreign Service Journal, May 2006

F O C U S 32 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A Y 2 0 0 6 beginning to round the corner to retirement, it’s a bit much to put on our plates. Similarly, the specific require- ments for promotion to more senior ranks are realistic for new staff in terms of professional, technical and language proficien- cy, and the time allotted to attain them. But they are unrealistic for staff such as myself who have been in the Foreign Service for over 20 years. If the require- ments can’t be made less stringent, then it would be good if the department could phase in the program in bits and pieces. The promulgation of these requirements doesn’t affect my willingness to compete for promotion, but it will make doing so even more difficult. I only have a few years left in the FS, and would like to be promot- ed one more time before retire- ment. The Foreign Service should readjust how it promotes spe- cialists. We can be placed in any job at any grade, yet we must wait for a “slot” to open before being considered for promotion. This does not make sense. I understand the concept for Civil Service, because if they are put in a higher-graded job, they will receive that salary. However, in the Foreign Service, that is not the case. Promotions in the FS should be based on performance, not the num- ber of slots available to a few people. That’s my two cents. Thanks for asking. Michele L. Willoughby Office Management Specialist Cairo n “Promotions in the FS should be based on performance, not the number of slots available to a few people.” — Michele Willoughby, OMS