america needs career ambassadors 2016 afsa tax guide

100 Pages·2016·8.01 MB·English

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017
2016 AFSA TAX GUIDE
AMERICA NEEDS
CAREER AMBASSADORS

FOREIGN
SERVICE
January-Feburary 2017 Volume 94, No. 1
27
MS
MAS C. ADA
O
H
OURTESY OF T
C
Focus on Notes to the New Administration
Feature
18 27
Mr. President, Foreign Assistance:
You Have Partners at State Time to Sharpen a
44
to Help Navigate Vital Diplomatic Tool
Developing the
the World’s Shoals Here are eight recommendations to
The new administration’s challenge rationalize U.S. foreign assistance and, Next Generation of
is to sustain U.S. leadership in an thus, greatly increase its effectiveness. Followers at USAID
increasingly unhinged world. By Thomas C. Adams We need to better understand
By Keith W. Mines followership—not just because
33 it essentially complements
23 leadership, but for its own
Notes to the
specific qualities.
One Story, Two Events, New Administration
By José M. Garzón
Seven Leadership Lessons Members of the U.S. Foreign Service
Policy crises and human crises in brief the Trump team, briefly.
faraway places—the stuff of diplomacy
today—offer compelling lessons
in leadership.
By Prudence Bushnell
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 5
FOREIGN
SERVICE
Perspectives 97
Departments
Reflections
Rip Van Winkle in
7
the Foreign Service 10 Letters
President’s Views
By Donna Scaramastra Gorman
Dear S: You Can Count on Us 11 Talking Points
By Barbara Stephenson
98 83 In Memory
9
89 Books
Letter from the Editor
The Diplomacy Brief
By Shawn Dorman
15
Marketplace
Speaking Out
Why U.S. Ambassadors Should Be 98 91 Classifieds
Career Professionals
Local Lens
By Edward L. Peck 94 Real Estate
Mestia, Georgia
By Francesca Kelly 96 Index to Advertisers
AFSA NEWS
THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION
48 A FSA Thanks Outreach Participants
49 State VP Voice—Speaking of Elections
50 F CS VP Voice—Results Matter
50 A FSA 2017 Dues Change
51 R etiree VP Voice—“To Support
and Defend the Constitution”
52 C all for Nominations:
2017-2019 Governing Board
55 A n In-Depth Look at the New MSI Process
56 A FSA Bylaw Amendments 60
58 A FSA Governing Board Meeting Notes
58 A FSA Welcomes New BBG Rep
59 The Foreign Service Networks at AFSA
59 A Thank You to Ambassador Farrand
60 AFSA Applauds JSP Graduates
62
61 C ongress Passes FY17 State Authorization Bill
62 2 016 AFSA Tax Guide
On the Cover: Design by Gemma Dvorak.
6 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL
PRESIDENT’S VIEWS
Dear S: You Can Count on Us
BY BARBARA STEPHENSON
The focus of this month’s Foreign I want to encourage the new administration
Service Journal is “Notes to the
to rely heavily on us, the career professionals,
New Administration.” As I write,
to advance American interests.
we are all awaiting word on the
president-elect’s choice for Secretary of
State, and our Foreign Service colleagues interests writ large and to Americans from opportunities. Sometimes you may not like
at USAID, and in FCS, FAS, APHIS and all walks of life. our reports and advice so much, when we
BBG are similarly tuned to news of key Like the majority of Americans, I sup- must advise you that something just won’t
appointments. port sharing the burden of that global fly, when even asking would carry a heavy
In short order we will introduce our- leadership. I have spent a good part of cost.
selves to our new “S” and a host of other my career persuading other countries to We are hard-wired to give you an
new arrivals to explain who we are, what pitch in and lighten the load on American unvarnished reality check. It starts with the
we do and why it matters. taxpayers. oath of office we take on entering the Ser-
I want to get this right and, in doing so, I am honored to lead the American vice—to protect and defend the Constitu-
encourage the new administration to rely Foreign Service Association, the voice of tion. Our commitment to honest judgment
heavily on us, the career professionals, to the Foreign Service. (Almost 80 percent is reinforced with the annual evaluation
advance American interests. Here is what I of active-duty members of the Foreign cycle, which requires us to demonstrate
plan to say: Service choose to join AFSA and stay with that we can “discern when well-founded
Congratulations on your appointment us throughout their careers, and many constructive dissent is justified” and
to lead the State Department, consis- remain members in retirement.) “advocate policy alternatives.” Evaluations
tently rated one of the best places in the As Foreign Service professionals, we matter, because we are rank-ordered each
federal government to work. I, myself, am are proud of our rigorous selection process year for promotion, and those who do not
a Foreign Service officer, and I hail from (which whittles down some 15,000 appli- get selected for promotion on time are
the part of State’s workforce that deploys cants each year to 375 candidates for new, forced to separate from the Service.
worldwide to protect and serve America’s entry-level officer positions). As a way to remind members of our
people, interests and values. Like most In the Foreign Service, you will have duty to call it like we see it, AFSA gives
of my Foreign Service colleagues, I have a corps of career professionals who are annual awards for dissent. In fact, we
spent about two-thirds of my career posted second to none in their grasp of how to are calling for award nominations now.
to American embassies and consulates get things done in the near- and far-flung (For more on dissent and information on
overseas. places where we are deployed. And you how to nominate a colleague for an AFSA
Like nine in 10 Americans, I support can count on us to call it like we see it, to award, please go to www.afsa.org/dissent.)
strong American give you our best advice. Again, congratulations on your
global leader- Sometimes you will love our reports appointment! I hope you will be proud
ship. In fact, I am and our advice, as we chart the course for of the extraordinary career professionals
passionate about achieving an American goal that you might in the Foreign Service who stand ready to
it, absolutely not have thought possible, might not have serve on your team. Count on us and use
convinced that the seen if you didn’t have members of the us fully as we support you in delivering the
work we do is a Foreign Service on the ground, working global leadership Americans want and the
huge benefit to U.S. in the local language, searching out these world needs. n
Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 7
FOREIGN
S
SERVICE
T
C
Editor in Chief, Director of Publications
A
Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org
T
Managing Editor N
Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected]
O
Associate Editor C
Gemma Dvorak: [email protected]
Publications Coordinator AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] [phone]; Fax [phone] Director of Finance
State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected]
Ad & Circulation Manager [phone]; Fax [phone] Controller
Ed Miltenberger: [email protected]
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[phone]; Fax [phone]
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LABOR MANAGEMENT
Katherine Perroots: [email protected] GOVERNING BOARD
General Counsel
Advertising Intern President Sharon Papp: [email protected]
Eka Cipta Putera Chandra: [email protected] Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Deputy General Counsel
[email protected]
Contributing Editor Raeka Safai: [email protected]
Secretary
Steven Alan Honley Labor Management Specialist
William Haugh: [email protected]
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Senior Staff Attorney
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Randy Berry Angie Bryan: [email protected]
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James Bever USAID Vice President
Angela Bond Zlatana Badrich: [email protected]
Sharon Wayne: [email protected]
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Stephen W. Buck Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan:
Steve Morrison: [email protected]
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FAS Vice President
Eric Green Grievance Counselor
Kara McDonald Mark Petry: [email protected] Jason Snyder: [email protected]
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Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected]
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PROFESSIONALS Lawrence Casselle Erika Bethmann: [email protected]
The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Susan Danewitz
2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Jason Donovan
published monthly, with combined January-February MEMBER SERVICES
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PROFESSIONAL POLICY ISSUES
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8 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The Diplomacy Brief
BY SHAWN DORMAN
B
y all indications, many in the Will the Trump team realize that diplomacy is
incoming administration will
managed and foreign policy implemented by
be new to public service. Will
they realize that diplomacy professional public servants?
is managed and foreign policy imple-
mented by professional public servants, ership lessons learned through handling unique to the United States, of reward-
members of the Foreign Service who tragic crises overseas. She advises that ing campaign donors and bundlers with
have sworn an oath to the U.S. Consti- leadership is “not about you”; that the ambassadorships, and turn to the career
tution? best strategies result from asking the best Foreign Service for the expertise needed
Hopefully, yes. And, hopefully, they questions; and that you must take care of for these positions.
will turn to the professionals staffing the your people and yourself, and persevere. In this month’s Speaking Out, Ambas-
foreign affairs agencies and U.S. embas- In “Time to Sharpen a Vital Diplo- sador Edward Peck expands on that
sies and consulates around the world and matic Tool,” development expert Thomas particular message, laying out the case
welcome their input, value their experi- Adams takes a serious look at how to against “pay to play” ambassadors and in
ence, and utilize their deep knowledge improve the effectiveness of U.S. foreign favor of career diplomats for those critical
and understanding. assistance. He argues for rebuilding posts.
To help orient the newcomers, we USAID’s capacity and consolidating This issue also features the dry but
have reached out to the Foreign Service development functions there, while more essential annual AFSA Tax Guide, spell-
community for this month’s special focus closely integrating foreign assistance and ing out what you need to know as a tax-
on “Notes to the New Administration.” foreign policy. payer in the Foreign Service. In addition,
AFSA President Ambassador Barbara We went out to the members of the you’ll find an engaging pitch for devel-
Stephenson opens by introducing herself, Foreign Service to ask for brief notes oping better “followership” at USAID
the association and the Foreign Service on what they want the Trump admin- from retired FSO José Garzón; and, in a
to the new Secretary of State, in “Dear S: istration to know about the role of the Reflections piece that will surely resonate
You Can Count on Us.” Foreign Service. We received 38 thought- with many, writer and FS spouse Donna
In “Mr. President, You Have Partners ful responses and share them all in this Gorman offers a glimpse of the chal-
at State to Help Navigate the World’s issue. lenges of coming “home.”
Shoals,” Foreign Service Officer Keith Several themes come through loud This double issue will be followed
Mines calls on the new president to have and clear: Know that we are the profes- in March with a look at “Diplomatic
a conversation with the American people sional Foreign Service, your Foreign Ser- Security at 100,” and in April we ponder
about America’s place in the world, reaf- vice, serving the United States all over the the future of Europe and the transatlantic
firm the leadership role that the United world. We are the face of America abroad, alliance.
States plays globally a bridge to the world. We understand Please keep writing for the Journal
and reassure allies of the local situations at our posts and offer in mind. Share your reactions to articles
that commitment. honest reporting that you need in order in Letters, ideas for how things could
Ambassador (ret.) to formulate policy. be done better in Speaking Out, stories
Prudence Bushnell Last, but not least, you have an oppor- in Reflections, as well as feature articles
shares valuable lead- tunity to turn away from the practice, on the policy and practice of diplomacy
based on research or your experience.
Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. This is your magazine. n
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 9
LETTERS
Patience First sions of true love? After all, the office of tasteful. Then, we confront the dilemma:
For the first time since retiring I’m the president does have a tendency to Do I resign, forsaking a career I cherish?
glad I’m retired. The reason is Donald sober a man. It makes him realize that Or do I continue to serve? If the latter,
Trump. his decisions will have consequences, then we, as professional diplomats, owe
If the president-elect acts on his and that history will sit in judgment of the full measure of our energy and intel-
campaign rhetoric and scuttles trade his actions. lect to the enterprise.
deals, ignores Article 5 of the NATO It does appear, at least on a few issues, Perhaps it will never get to that point.
charter, begins deporting Hispanics by that the president-elect has reconsidered But if it does, I’m glad I’m retired.
the millions, encourages countries to some of his stated positions and hedged Robert Callahan
acquire nuclear weapons and condones a bit on his more provocative promises. Ambassador, retired
territorial aggressions, then I’m happy to Is this cause for hope, or wishful think- Centerville, Massachusetts
be here on Cape Cod rather than in one ing?
of our embassies or consulates. I imagine that many members of the The State of Writing
If implemented, these positions will Foreign Service and their Civil Service I agree with Paul Poletes’ thoughtful
have no justification, no defense. They colleagues are nervously asking them- piece on the state of State writing (“Get-
are wrong. Since the Truman adminis- selves this very question. We are a pro- ting Beyond Bureaucratese—Why Writ-
tration, practitioners of American foreign fessional Foreign Service, committed to ing Like Robots Damages U.S. Interests,”
policy from both major parties have serving the nation and supporting each Speaking Out, November 2016 FSJ).
worked to build a structure of defensive administration’s policies, no matter the As a long-
alliances and trade agreements that party in power or our personal prefer- time newspaper
ensures our safety and prosperity. ences. Most of us, I would think, have reporter who
Although my contemporaries and I— at one time or another advocated for a joined the
unlike Dean Acheson—were not present policy we found mistaken, misguided or Foreign Service
at its creation, we took seriously the myopic. The State Department could not in 2011, I was
legacy of American internationalism, our function otherwise. surprised to
security commitments and the promo- For those reasons I think that we owe find State writ-
tion of democracy, human rights and the Trump administration sufficient ing so cumber-
individual freedoms. We were confident time to develop and deploy their foreign some. During
in these policies, proud of the values policies. If we were to act precipitously, my first tour,
they expressed and comfortable in advo- if we failed to give the president-elect the while serving as a consular officer, I
cating them. same consideration that we have given found my writing skills to be in demand
Despite some egregious failures, his predecessors, we would betray our to draft articles and edit colleagues’ EERs
which President-Elect Trump has glee- pledge to serve the nation irrespective to make them clearer.
fully noted, we have largely succeeded. of partisan politics. We would weaken To use Poletes’ words “wordiness,
The United States and the world are bet- America. empty jargon, wishy-washy prose and a
ter off as a result of our efforts. But this patience and, if it comes to it, near total lack of human touch” do not
I therefore must ask: Does Mr. Trump this willingness to support policies with make us sound smarter. “Bureaucratese”
really want to turn seven decades of which we personally disagree must have confuses the reader and leads to ineffec-
effective American diplomacy on its its limits. During the conflict in Vietnam, tive communication of policy.
head? If so, he will undermine our safety I have been told, many officers resigned In writing, less is more. Clear is beau-
and prosperity and tarnish the image of in protest. Some resigned during the tiful. We owe simpler, more effective writ-
the United States. Balkan crisis of the 1990s and the Second ing to our colleagues and ourselves. n
But what if—as is often the case dur- Persian Gulf War. Sarah Talalay
ing an electoral campaign—his words There comes a time when conscience FSO
were just so much fodder for the voter, and principle, both subjective tests, Arlington, Virginia
no more sincere than Don Juan’s profes- make continuing to serve personally dis-
10 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL