The Foreign Service Journal, June 2008

F O C U S O N T h e F S P e r s o n n e l S y s t e m W HO I S THE “T OTAL C ANDIDATE ?” FSO H IRING T ODAY / 15 The Foreign Service intake process has been revamped. Here is a preliminary assessment of the new exam and other changes. By Shawn Dorman A C AREER O UT OF B ALANCE / 26 Inadequate staffing, expanding commitments, insufficient budgets and poor management all threaten the Foreign Service’s future. By John K. Naland G OING I T A LONE : F AMILY L IFE IN THE ‘N EW ’ F OREIGN S ERVICE / 30 Most FS employees will serve unaccompanied tours during their careers. What kind of support can their families expect? By Kelly Bembry Midura R EWARDING F UNCTIONAL P OLICY E XPERTISE / 36 Structural changes to encourage service in functional policy offices will help the Foreign Service meet the challenges of the 21st century. By Sally K. Horn T HE M OVEMENT TO E MPOWER L OCALLY E NGAGED S TAFF / 43 Empowering Foreign Service National employees in our overseas missions sounds like a no-brainer. But there are real downsides to the idea. By Michael Bricker F E A T U R E S B UILDING ON THE G OLDWATER -N ICHOLS A CT / 47 Interagency cooperation between State and Defense has the potential to mitigate the staffing shortfalls that continue to hamper both departments. By Timothy K. Hsia A L AGOS D IARY : D YING R EQUEST FOR A K OSHER B URIAL / 51 In this true story, an FS couple respond to a friend’s dying wish to be buried as a Jew — in Nigeria. By Lawrence Cohen C ONTENTS June 2008 Volume 85, No. 6 Cover and inside illustration by Terry Tidwell/Miracle Studios P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 The Foreign Service Act of 2010 By John K. Naland S PEAKING O UT / 12 Where Have All the Senior-Level Women Gone? By Susan Crais Hovanec R EFLECTIONS / 100 Trombone Diplomacy By Fred A. Coffey Jr. L ETTERS / 6 C YBERNOTES / 8 M ARKETPLACE / 11 B OOKS / 93 I NDEX TO A DVERTISERS / 98 J U N E 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 3 J O U R N A L OREIGN ERVICE S F