The Foreign Service Journal, June 2012

32 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U N E 2 0 1 2 terms of legal protection from dis- missal or unfair treatment by su- pervisors. We know that at any point in the day we can suddenly be escorted out by the Regional Security Officer and have the locks changed behind us, without any meaningful legal recourse or even a chance to say goodbye to our colleagues. Teaching each new supervisor their job every three years is by now second nature to us. But it still leaves a bitter aftertaste, as well, because we know that while our American colleagues have the incen- tive of career development, we stay cemented in our cur- rent career paths and pay, despite our valuable contributions and fantastic wealth of knowledge. Finally, what has been most frustrating to me, per- sonally, is watching the slow shift of priorities for our American colleagues as the Department of State grows into a mammoth bureaucracy. The open-minded, in- spired and hard-working diplomats whose job it is to soak up local culture and life, gaining a deep understanding of the host nation’s issues to better inform U.S. govern- ment policies, have slowly been replaced by increasingly harried bureaucrats. They have precious little time to think and analyze because of the stupefying amount of administration they (and we) contend with, which many of us have taken to calling “e-hell.” We’ve also experienced the cycle of bad moods and changing attitudes of our supervisors come evaluation time, when the rating and the next job prospect loom larger than the substance of the job and relations with the local staff that supports them in everything they do. The United States deserves better, and we are here to help as much as we can. Our hope as FSNs is that our American colleagues all over the world will always keep in mind that the statement, “FSNs are the backbone of the Foreign Service,” is not another hollow award-ceremony cliché. We also hope that our loyalty to the United States government’s goals and interests will be rewarded with full respect and loyalty, in return. Aneta Stefanova has worked as a Foreign Service Na- tional for Embassy Sofia since 1991. Currently an infor- mation specialist, she previously worked as the embassy switchboard operator and a secretary/receptionist in the U.S. Information Service section. FSNS A RE N OT “LES” — I N A NY S ENSE By Pedro R. Pires, Sao Paulo A few years back, the Depart- ment of State decided to change the term for its local overseas em- ployees from Foreign Service Na- tionals to Locally Employed Staff. This might seem insignificant, but coming at a time when we already felt that our status was being downgraded and diminished, it seemed sad and ironic to be given a new acronym which, when spoken, sounded like the English word “less.” In fact, FSNs are not less than anyone. Part of the fun- damental operations of U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, we are on the front lines in dealing with host country civil society, press and private sectors. We are deeply proud to work side by side with Foreign Serv- ice personnel to coordinate important aid and foreign pol- icy work. Without FSNs, U.S. embassies would lose their insti- tutional memories, the ability to integrate into local soci- ety, and effective communication with their most important audiences. In short, without us you could not function. The change in nomenclature from FSN to LES is the type of decision that often comes fromWashington, with- out any consultation with the persons most concerned. It reveals ignorance of the fact that “Foreign Service Na- tional” is a term denoting someone who is fully involved in carrying out U.S. foreign policy. It shares the words “Foreign Service” with our American colleagues, em- bodying the significant role we all play. By contrast, “Locally Employed Staff” sounds like an insignificant part-time worker, someone who is not re- ally integrated into the overall effort. To many of us, the term LES sounds derogatory, symbolizing the grow- ing number of restrictions we face that create unneces- sary and harmful “us and them” distinctions in the workplace. Pedro R. Pires is a network administrator at Consulate General Sao Paulo, which issues more visas than any other post in the world. He started working for the consular sec- tion in 1996, and was promoted to the Information Re- F OCUS My experience as a Foreign Service National can be summarized in two words: fascination and frustration.