Seventy percent of generalists said they did not consider the PDP when planning their bidding strategies. Language requirements. Eighty-one percent of generalist respondents said they had already completed the PDP language requirements. The most common reason given for not completing is that the Foreign Service member already has the required level of language skill. We interpret this to mean the Foreign Service is recruiting those who already have second-language proficiency and/or training Foreign Service members early on to a proficiency level in foreign languages. Other PDP requirements, including leadership training. Eighty-one percent of generalist respondents said they had completed the mix of overseas and domestic posts required by the PDP. The cost of living in Washington was a factor steering bidders away from domestic jobs. Sixty percent of generalist respondents had completed the global/functional positions, and 77 percent had fulfilled a PDP “elective” such as a detail, long-term training, or an out-of-cone assignment. Forty-four percent of generalist respondents had not fulfilled leadership training requirements, citing scheduling difficulties or lack of training slots. Waiver process. Eighty-five percent of all respondents said they were unaware of the CDP/PDP waiver process. AFSA Recommendations AFSA recommends the State Department explore why many Foreign Service members associate highdifferential service posts with family separation and review bidding incentives accordingly. In addition, the department should evaluate whether specific PDP requirements disproportionately affect certain groups, including women, parents, and tandem couples, and consider piloting a limited “point” system that allows cumulative service to count toward the requirement of 20 percent differential service after tenure. AFSA endorses respondent recommendations to count Foreign Service tandem spouses not working in the mission at a hardship post as having fulfilled a hardship requirement and, similarly, to enable tandem spouses holding DETO positions at hardship posts to have fulfilled a hardship post requirement. AFSA sees a need to analyze how the recent “freezing” of positions overseas, especially language-designated positions, has prevented some Foreign Service members from fulfilling the PDP requirement to serve in hardship posts and to have served in a mix of domestic and overseas posts. The creation of an employee profile platform would allow Foreign Service members to self-assess which PDP criteria they need to fulfill as they are bidding. AFSA agrees with specialist respondents who called for the expansion of out-ofcone (or out-of-specialtyand-language) assignments for generalists and detailees. AFSA believes State has more educating to do on the PDP requirements—fully 25 percent of generalists and 37 percent of specialists said they were unaware of the PDP requirements, including hardship, before taking the AFSA survey. n —Julie Nutter If your answer was no to the foreign language requirement question, what is the reason(s) you did not complete it? (Check all that apply.) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Number of respondents My dependent’s educational requirements precluded service in a non-English-speaking country. I spoke a foreign language and tested at 3/3 prior to tenure but have not been able to serve again in a country using that target language. I have a learning disability that has hindered my ability to acquire the foreign language. I completed my language training but could not test at FSI at the required level to complete this part of the PDP. I have some foreign language skills but have not been able to secure time for additional language training that would get me the required score. I believe I speak one or more foreign languages at the required level for the PDP, but despite multiple FSI language tests, I have not achieved the required score. Other. 58 OCTOBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS
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