The Foreign Service Journal, November 2014

74 NOVEMBER 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL A common complaint from retired State Foreign Service members has to do with the State Department’s retiree access policy for Main State, department annexes and the Foreign Service Institute. Or rather, lack of access. Longtime retirees may remember when annuitant access to the department was a less onerous, more respect- ful process. In the past, FS retirees received only laminated cards certifying that the bearer had completed “XX years of loyal and meritorious service” for Uncle Sam! In 2008, the department began issuing “chipped” retiree badges. Many may have believed these chipped badges would operate at facil- ity turnstiles like those of their active-duty counterparts. Why else produce them? But those of you holding these badges know well that the chip in the “chipped” badge is not activated. AFSA recently asked annuitants about their experi- ences with facility access. We received quite an earful. Members recounted how the current access policy and retiree badge do little to make the loyal and meritorious bearer feel welcome. Some respondents stated that because of demeaning treatment—even with the badge—they do not attend events at the department. When It Comes to Facility Access for Retirees, Mother State Shows No Love While we recognize security within State Department facilities is important, retiree access to the department ought not lead to personal humiliation. Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA Retiree VP. Contact: lawrencecohenassociates@hotmail.com or (703) 437-7881 One person affirmed that the retiree badge guarantees the bearer nothing more than treatment equal to that provided to someone off the street. Another described how security guards, in conducting a thorough search of belong- ings and person, treated him like some sort of pariah. (To be fair, the member com- mended the courteousness of the guards as he left the building.) Yet another related how she retired on a Friday and then found herself feeling humiliated on Monday after going through the security process at Main State. One person alleged that security guards go out of their way to be more demanding of retirees. Current policy permits the bearer of a retiree badge to receive a security pat-down, submit to a handbag check, stand in line at the VIP desk, engage in the regular sign-in process, possibly present another form of government ID and, once cleared, carry an “escort required” tag if not visiting the first-floor service areas or the Ralph Bunche library of the HST building. There are many reasons to visit State Department offices, not just to conduct business at the credit union. The Career Transition Cen- ter’s Job Search Program emphasizes that retirees “network, network, network” with former colleagues. But what if no one picks up the phone in the office to be visited? This happened to a mem- ber trying to go to the Bureau of Human Resources Office of Retirement in SA-1 with his newly minted retiree card. “Come back another time,” said the guard, “and have a good day.” While we recognize secu- rity within State Department facilities is important, retiree access to the department ought not lead to personal humiliation. The Department of Defense appears to do a better job for its retired personnel. Retired military officers may not waltz into the Pentagon’s most sensitive areas. However, DOD encour- ages interaction with military retirees and treats ID-carrying retirees considerately when they visit bases, offices and commissaries. The military treats its retirees with respect; so, too, should State. No Foreign Service retiree ought to fear or fret entry into department facilities. It is a stretch to argue Foreign Service annui- tants are high security risks. This is most especially true with recently retired annui- tants who continue to hold active security clearances. AFSA urges the depart- ment to activate the chipped retiree badges—especially for the newly retired—allow their use at entrance turnstiles, and keep them active for the length of the badge’s validity. Retirees know their way around Main State and other facilities quite well and should not require an escort. Access procedures at annexes such as FSI should be eased appro- priately. No Foreign Service retiree should be subjected to bag and body searches. Mother State could take a lesson frommilitary service counterpart institutions and show some love for its seniors. n RETIREE VP VOICE | BY LARRY COHEN AFSA NEWS