President’s
Views
BY ERIC RUBIN
This is not an easy time to be a
member of the U.S. Foreign Service. Nor an easy time to be involved in efforts
to advance our country’s interests and the primary objectives of our
profession: ensuring America’s security and prosperity and promoting peaceful
resolution of disputes and the negotiated settlement of conflicts.
Our new governing board at AFSA
is determined to support our members in the face of what is probably the most
significant set of challenges our Service and our institution have ever faced.
Let me start out with an appeal
to all Foreign Service members: Please stay. A significant percentage of our
Service is eligible for immediate retirement. Others may be debating whether
they are able to stay under current circumstances. My earnest request is that
you stay if you can. The Foreign Service needs you. Your country needs you.
Just as the United States needs
experienced professional air traffic controllers, food inspectors, forest
rangers and FBI agents, it needs experienced career diplomats. That means us.
America’s role in the world remains pivotal. Without U.S. leadership, almost
everything will be worse. I believe that, sincerely. I hope you do as well.
We serve under difficult
circumstances and take our families to tough places. At times we risk our
lives. What do we ask in return? We ask to be treated with respect and to be
recognized and valued for our dedication to our country and for the sacrifices
that we and our family members have made.
Unfortunately, some of our
colleagues have not experienced that respect in recent months. The clear
politicization of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, as documented by
the State Department Inspector General, is one glaring example. To
date, there have been no consequences for those responsible.
The lack of senior Foreign
Service jobs is not just an issue for the Foreign Service; it is an issue for
American diplomacy. We currently have no active-duty Foreign Service officers
serving in any assistant secretary of State positions. This is an unprecedented
situation with no equivalent since the Second World War.
And the number of career officers
serving as ambassador is at one of the lowest points since records have been
kept. This is not just about jobs for our colleagues. It is about ensuring that
our country has experienced career professionals serving in critical positions
around the world.
A word about AFSA. We have nearly
100 years of experience representing the Foreign Service, and we do so with
passion and commitment. But we can only do this with your help. We welcome and
we need ideas and contributions from our members. Please share your suggestions
and thoughts with us on our social media pages and, if you wish, through direct
email communication to our board members. All of us can be reached via the
links on the AFSA website.
While we certainly recognize the
seriousness of current challenges, we are pressing ahead with efforts to get
more positions established—or reestablished— overseas; to ensure adequate
funding for our agencies and operations; and to support recruitment of a
diverse, representative workforce. Let’s all keep working together to advance
these objectives.
A special request to our
colleagues from the other foreign affairs agencies: please keep in touch with
AFSA, and share your suggestions and input.
I look forward to hearing from you and working with you, and I thank you for your commitment and dedication to serving our country and the ideals that it represents. Tough times require even stronger commitment and engagement. At this very difficult time, let’s demonstrate who we are and what we can do. That is the meaning of the oath to the Constitution that we all have taken.
Ambassador Eric Rubin is the
president of the American Foreign Service Association.
{Note: I simply wanted to share with you the thinking of our
Foreign Service Officers representing you and our country during these troubling
times. Many are leaving because they cannot explain to a foreign audience
what is happening to our country when they don’t understand either. They have
no one in the Department of State who is working with them.These career officers are sorely needed. Please
keep them in prayer.
Charlene C. Duline}
Charlene C. Duline}
