The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2006

“The people coming in no longer see this as a lifelong career. Often they see it as a way to see the world and to gain some experience.” There is a consensus that State can take no bigger step toward ensuring the success of the next generation of officers — who, even more than their predecessors, are likely to marry highly-educated, career- oriented men and women unwilling to put aside their own goals — than by increasing employment opportunities for spouses. (Gay and lesbian officers note that the situation is even more dire for them, because their partners are not allowed to apply for many jobs set aside for spouses.) One veteran officer now based in Washington, who has previously served in Africa, Asia and Latin America, would like to see the department introduce a program that allows spouses to fill Foreign Service jobs on a tem- porary basis and, after a period of a few years, transition fully into the Service without having to undergo the writ- ten exam. “Why is the department willing to bring in an untried college graduate, but not a spouse who’s proven over the years that they can do the job?” she asks. That’s a question, like many others raised by Rice’s transformational diplomacy initiative, which remains to be resolved. Up to this point, officers have proven will- ing to make the necessary sacrifices, as Rice moves increasing numbers into hardship and danger posts. But with increasing numbers of two-parent working families in the Foreign Service, family matters remain the biggest sticking point. The State Department has taken some steps in the right direction. In order to better help spouses find rewarding work, State last year contracted with Milwaukee-based job placement firm Manpower Inc. to launch an initiative that aims to provide spouses with access to overseas employment markets and cultural familiarization training. That built on other initiatives: In 2001, for example, the department launched the Strategic Networking Assistance Program, which seeks to link spouses up with jobs in local markets or positions with multinational companies, nongovernmental organi- zations, or other international agencies, as well as other assis- tance, in the form of career development seminars and information on training oppor- tunities. And last year, the department teamed with Staff- Centrix to provide training for spouses on entrepreneurship and running service businesses from home using e-mail, phone or fax. A Foreign Service Journal study last year (“Special Re- port — Family Member Em- ployment: At Work in the Mission,” July-August 2005 FSJ ) found that 75 percent of family members with jobs continue to work within embassy walls. Spouses pre- ferred this work because it typically paid better than jobs in the local economy, but expressed concern that too few opportunities were available. Overall, only 35 percent of spouses overseas hold jobs, according to State’s Family Liaison Office, while another 15 percent want a job but cannot find one. Spouses look- ing for high-level professional employment were particu- larly disappointed, as most of the available embassy jobs are in junior officer, clerical or blue-collar roles. Officers reported that opportunities vary widely by post, depend- ing on the commitment of mission leaders. “The Foreign Service is different from almost any other profession you can think of in that it’s composed of people who are highly educated, white-collar profession- als, who have to live in places where their spouses cannot really pursue their careers,” says AFSA State VP Kashkett. “This is a unique challenge, and if you want the best and brightest, you have to accommodate their spous- es and partners.” The Transformational Diplomacy Effect Kashkett says State management needs to be more diligent about ensuring that new recruits find the Foreign Service is everything it was billed to be. Officers want work that challenges them, to be sure; but they also want a secure environment within which to carry out their duties and adequate compensation for taking on risky assignments. That doesn’t mean easy jobs, Kashkett emphasizes. “The image of the pampered U.S. diplomat C O V E R S T O R Y 26 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 6 Officers want work that challenges them, but they also want a secure environment within which to carry out their duties and adequate compensation for taking on risky assignments.