The Foreign Service Journal, October 2013

50 OCTOBER 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS Inside the U.S. Military with Inside a U.S. Embassy Thank you, AFSA. There are days at work that I don’t know what I would do with- out Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work . The book is a wonderful tool that I have used with scores of military colleagues over the past three years to give them a better idea of the role of the Department of State and of other civilian agencies overseas.  I represent State Depart- ment views and equities as a political adviser at the United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Many of our military colleagues are posted overseas at some point in their careers, but have no prior experience with U.S. embassies or with the State Department. Nor are they familiar with the role and authorities of the chief of mission. As I attempt to explain how modes of work BY CATHY BLANK, STATE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE TO EUCOM and culture in the military are different from those at an embassy, I find that Inside a U.S. Embassy is one of the best tools to drive my key points home.  The book has been an eye-opener for many, particularly the stories that make embassy life real. Use of my dog-eared copy caused many to order their own from Amazon.  I asked EUCOM’s J9 Interagency Partnering Directorate to invite Shawn Dorman, AFSA’s Foreign Service Books publisher, to help teach our inaugural (and pilot) interagency course in July. She joined us for the two-day course and gave a well-received two-hour lecture, “Embassy 101.”We look forward to continued cooperation with AFSA and expanded use of the Inside a U.S. Embassy book. n FSO political adviser Cathy Blank, Shawn Dorman and LCDR Robert Morgan at the U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, July 2013. To Support the AFSA Scholarship Program Designate CFC #11759 This year, please consider supporting the AFSA scholarship program by designat- ing #11759 on your Combined Federal Campaign pledge card or online dona- tion. The AFSA Scholarship Fund has changed its name to Foreign Service Youth Scholarships-AFSA, but the number remains the same (CFC #11759). Last year, AFSA provided more than $230,000 through need-based scholarships and merit awards to 90 Foreign Service students to aid in their college expenses. Please visit www.afsa.org for details. NEWS BRIEF “FS Stories” to Celebrate 90 Years 2014 marks the 90th year of the Foreign Service and AFSA. AFSA News invites active duty, retirees and family members from all foreign affairs agen- cies to tell a short story from your life in the Foreign Service, not just on the job, but also those memo- rable moments. Articles should be approximately 750 words in length and high-resolution photographs are wel- comed. Stories will appear in AFSA News through- out 2014. Please submit your story to AFSA News Editor Donna Ayerst, at ayerst@afsa.org. For questions, please call (202) 577-3611. NEWS BRIEF PHOTOBYEUCOM