The Foreign Service Journal, September 2013

64 SEPTEMBER 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL STATE VP VOICE | BY MATTHEW ASADA AFSA NEWS Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. Contact: asadam@state.gov or (202) 647-8160 The Foreign Service’s DRI/Diplomacy 3.0 Generation Ten years ago I joined the For- eign Service along with my fellow colleagues from the 115th A-100 class. We were part of former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Diplo- matic Readiness Initiative, itself a precursor to Secre- tary Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Diplomacy 3.0 hiring surge. Together this DRI/D3.0 generation now represents more than half of today’s Foreign Service. I want to take a moment and reflect on this generation as part of my introduction to you as your new State Vice President on AFSA’s Governing Board. THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE Mine is a Foreign Service generation shaped by 9/11 and a decade of war; the burst of the dot.com bubble followed by the global finan- cial crisis; the explosion of social media and the empow- erment of the individual; and greater acceptance and celebration of America’s diversity. It is a generation willing to “think different,” challenge conventions and embrace technology. It rec- ognizes the catalyzing power of the individual, the sustain- ing power of the institution and the value of the coalition. It is a post-Cold War genera- tion that believes change is possible—here and abroad. It is a generation witness- ing “The Protests Around the World,” which The Economist suggests may be just as sig- nificant as those of the years 1848, 1968 or 1989. A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE In spite of the change, this generation longs for intergenerational contact, seeking out the wisdom and experience of those who have come before. AFSA is an intergenerational connector, linking the current active- duty generation represented in the union’s bargaining unit with the retired population of the professional association. It is a generation that has wit- nessed an attack on, and the decline of, organized labor, despite its past gains and the continued need for employee representation. The idea of worldwide ser- vice still resonates resound- ingly and many of us have answered the call to serve at unaccompanied posts. For several members of our For- eign Service family, that call would be their last. As the custodian of AFSA’s Memo- rial Plaques in the C Street lobby of the Department of State, it is important that we honor those who have given their lives in service by pre- serving their memory. AFSA: ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE I joined AFSA the same day I joined the Foreign Service. I joined because I fundamentally believe in the importance of a professional association and public-sector union for America’s 15,000 active-duty diplomats. I joined knowing that AFSA would advocate for changes that would improve the Service at both a personal and institutional level, ensure that the system as a whole remained fair for me and my colleagues and represent me in the case that the depart- ment wittingly or unwittingly violated its own regulations. I ran for vice president as a new voice with new ideas for the union’s leadership. I ran as a member of the DRI/D3.0 generation that recognizes that the time to “step up and lean in” is now. AFSA: FULL-TIME IN HST 1251 Today, when I tell people about my current position, the vast majority of col- leagues I talk to are surprised to learn that the position is full-time (I am detailed from the State Department to the union for two years); or that we have an AFSA office in the department, across from the Employee Services Center— in addition to our headquar- ters at 21st and E Streets NW. At HST, we advocate policies that meet the overall interests of our membership, and assist Foreign Service employees with inquiries and grievances. In department- speak, that means we clear on personnel regulations, policies and announce- ments; participate in working groups; and partner with o ces, a nity groups and external third parties on projects and proposals. I encourage you to think about how your o ce or organization might be able to partner with AFSA. Rest assured that we—the elected leadership and AFSA staff— are working full-time on your behalf, whether you have visited our o ces or not. LET US HEAR FROM YOU In the campaign, I heard about your career and professional development, security and quality of work/ life balance concerns. We have already begun address- ing these issues with depart- ment management—you can track our progress at www.afsa.org/state. Please feel free to drop me a line at asadam@state.gov, or stop by my o ce at any time to let me know your concerns and ideas. I look forward to engaging you in this column (next month: career paths) and serving you as your State vice president for the next two years. n