The Foreign Service Journal, May 2007

M A Y 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 15 S P E A K I N G O U T requirements statements. Many slots in Iraq and Afghan- istan would no doubt be included in any list of jobs to be filled early on a priority basis. But other positions, particularly those in countries where the security environment prevents normal diplomatic activity, would wait until the regular bidding season. In contrast, jobs in any country that offers opportunities for an individual to make a difference — particularly where incumbents have made good progress — should be considered for the pre-season. A mentor once told me a great officer makes the most of any post. Yet some countries — safe and dan- gerous alike — offer more scope for success than others. Criteria like democracy, trade relevance, regional security, MCC eligibility, and health and environmental conditions, should justify pre-season placement for some jobs. Any one of these issues relevant to U.S. interests is a more valid indi- cator of importance than danger. The pressure to staff the Iraqs and Afghanistans of the world is unlikely to abate anytime soon. Even so, the incentives and justifications built into our assignments process can and should be recalibrated to reflect diplomatic opportunities. It is when importance is equated with accom- plishing the tasks the American peo- ple pay us for, not just how much dan- ger we expose ourselves to, that the distribution of U.S. diplomatic talent around the world will be most effec- tive. Brian Neubert is currently the polit- ical, economic and commercial sec- tion chief in Antananarivo. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1998, he has also served in Kinshasa, Hong Kong and Washington, D.C.