The Foreign Service Journal, December 2006

and withhold funds until this is accomplished. John Patterson Former AFSA/USAID VP and USAID FSO North Kingstown, R.I. Military Background In his State VP Voice column, “The Elephant in the Room” (Octo- ber AFSA News ), Steve Kashkett wrote: “We are not the military either by background, temperament, train- ing or skill sets.” Many Foreign Ser- vice personnel, however, do indeed have a military background. The current director general of the For- eign Service, Amb. George Staples, is a former Air Force officer. Amb. Staples’ predecessor, Amb. Robert Pearson, is a former Navy officer. Former Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, as well as Marines and Coast Guard, fill the ranks of the Foreign Service. In fact, some of our colleagues in the reserves have even been reactivated for military duty. I have not been in the military, but I salute, acknowledge and thank those of my colleagues who have for their service in our nation’s armed forces, whether it was during the Cold War era or the present. John Higi FSO Embassy Kuwait D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 11 L E T T E R S A time of service…a time of need Help for Seniors May Be Just a Phone Call Away— Home Health Care Adult Day Care & Respite Care Prescription Drug Copayments Transportation to Medical Appointments Durable Medical Equipment For more information, please contact the SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 Fax: (202) 872-9320 E-Mail: info@SLFoundation.org Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org The Senior Living Foundation may be able to help you or someone you know. Some examples of assistance are: SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION Send your letters to: journal@afsa.org. Note that all letters are subject to editing for style, format and length.