THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2023 87 If early- and mid-career employees think at all about life after the Foreign Service, they most probably envision happily turning in their badge and going on to pursue other interests. But as retirement nears, many of us have second thoughts about completely leaving government service. The topics and tasks that we worked on during our careers still interest and energize us. The knowledge, skills and abilities that we acquired over many years give us much to continue to contribute to the nation. And, especially for those of us obligated by the up-or-out system to retire in our late 50s or early 60s, we may need additional income for at least a few more years. Thus, many newly retired Foreign Service members return to work for the government. A survey conducted by FSI of employees who retired in 2018 and 2019 found that 32 percent had taken new federal positions. Those numbers undoubtedly would have been higher if Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had not frozen hiring from February 2017 to March 2018. Some Foreign Service retirees who return to government service find employment under a personal services contract (PSC) or, more rarely, in a full-time Civil Service job. But the vast majority work part time in the reemployed annuitant (REA) program. Because 85 percent of the Foreign Service works for the State Department and my REA experience was there, this article focuses on the REA program at State. n Retired Foreign Service Officer John K. Naland is in his fourth term as AFSA retiree vice president. He has also served as AFSA State Department vice president and twice as AFSA president. The complete article appears in the May 2022 FSJ. FROM THE MAY 2022 FSJ FOCUS SECTION AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT PROGRAM BY JOHN K. NALAND
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