The Foreign Service Journal, December 2015

AFSA NEWS CALENDAR THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION Foreign Service 101 on Capitol Hill THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2015 49 December 2 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting December 3 2-3:30 p.m. “Emerging U.S. Security Partnerships in Southeast Asia” December 25 Christmas: AFSA Offices Closed January 1 New Year’s Day: AFSA Offices Closed January 6 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting January 15 Deadline: Sinclaire Language Awards Nominations January 18 Martin Luther King Day: AFSA Offices Closed February 3 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting February 6 Deadline: Community Service and Art/Academic Merit Awards February 15 Presidents’ Day: AFSA Offices Closed February 18 2-3:30 p.m. AFSA Book Notes: “Foreign Policy Breakthroughs” February 28 Deadline: AFSA Dissent & Performance Awards Nominations The American Foreign Service Association recently partnered with the Foreign Affairs Congressional Staff Association to host a panel titled “Strong Diplomacy in Today’s World: U.S. Foreign Service 101.”The event was held on Oct. 15 at the Longworth House Office Building on Cap- itol Hill and included panelists AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, Retiree Representative ad interimAmbassador Pat Bute- nis and Foreign Service Officer Ramon Escobar. During the past three years, AFSA has co-hosted a number of learning sessions on the Foreign Service for Hill staffers in coordination with congressional affinity groups. This year’s partner, FACSA, is a bipartisan-bicameral group that promotes profes- sional development for those working in Congress who are interested in issues related to the conduct of foreign affairs. Addressing an audience of more than 85 legisla- tive assistants, fellows and interns, Amb. Stephenson described the Foreign Service as an indispensable asset to national security and high- lighted its distinction as the only organization in the world whose members are deployed around the globe. AFSA/LINDSEYBOTTS She then explained how certain threats to the For- eign Service workforce pose serious challenges to the effectiveness of our diplo- matic efforts and, thereby, American interests overseas. Hiring of entry-level officers has fluctuated wildly, from more than 700 in 2010 to only 280 this year. This has created a bulge of mid-level officers competing for available positions under the rota- tion system required by the Foreign Service’s competitive up-or-out promotion system, while not generating sufficient entry-level officers to handle the growing demand for visa work—and possibly contribut- ing to a shortfall of seasoned mid-level FSOs seven to 10 years in the future. The panelists gave a brief presentation on how they came to enter the Foreign Service and offered a few vignettes from their individual experiences as professional diplomats. Speakers touched on everything from the process of joining the Foreign Service to the effects of secu- rity leaks on how embassies conduct business, and the realities of a mobile lifestyle to balancing risk with effective diplomacy. Following an engaging Q&A, AFSA hosted a meet- and-greet happy hour at Tor- tilla Coast on Capitol Hill. The gathering provided another opportunity for congressional staffers to meet members of the Foreign Service, includ- ing representatives from the Young Professionals at USAID group, the Blacks in Govern- ment Carl T. Rowan Chapter at State, and the Donald M. Payne International Develop- ment Fellowship Program. n —Shannon Mizzi, Editorial Assistant AFSA Retiree Representative ad interimAmbassador Pat Butenis (left), AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (center) and Foreign Service Officer Ramon Escobar (right) speak about the mission of the Foreign Service to congressional staffers.