PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 2017 DIPLOMACY AT WORK TIME TO ASK WHY WHEN EVACUATIONS DISRUPT SCHOOL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT FOREIGN SERVICE December 2017 Volume 94, No.10 Focus on How Diplomacy Works Education Supplement 30 Diplomacy Works— First-Person Stories from the Field U.S. diplomacy is vital to American prosperity and national security and to maintaining a peaceful world. Here are some examples of the critical work diplomats do. 22 The Making of an Effective Diplomat: A Global View How do diplomatic services around the world ensure their governments 64 have a steady supply of the most Raising effective professional envoys? Multilingual Children By Robert Hutchings in the Foreign Service and Jeremi Suri Raising children in more than one language is seldom straightforward and can leave parents second-guessing their approach. Here is a look at the challenges and how to meet them. By Nicole Schaefer-McDaniel FS Heritage and Jennifer Kirk Dinoia 78, 80, 82 43 Schools at a Glance The Foreign Service Institute at 70: 86 Recalling a Educational Preparedness: Proud History When an Evacuation Though much has changed at Disrupts School FSI in its 70 years of operation, Like it or not, evacuations have become its core mission remains a fact of Foreign Service life. Here to serve those who serve are some tips to ensure your child’s America around the world. education is not compromised by a By Steven Alan Honley sudden departure from post. By Marybeth Hunter, Cecile Mines and Courtney Colbert THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2017 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives 110 Local Lens Departments Vienna, Austria 7 By Kelly Midura President’s Views 10 Letters Time to Ask Why 14 Talking Points By Barbara Stephenson 9 Letter from the Editor Diplomacy Needs Diplomats Marketplace By Shawn Dorman 104 Classifieds 19 107 Real Estate Speaking Out Religious Diversity Benefits the 109 Index to Advertisers State Department By Phil Skotte AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 49 AFSA and USAID Welcome Collaboration 49 Making the Case for the Foreign Service 50 State VP Voice—A Time for Kindness 51 USAID VP Voice—Talking about Communication Gaps 52 FAS VP Voice—The Demographic Crisis 52 FCS and DEC Focus on U.S. Growth at Home and Abroad 53 Where We Stand—Unpacking “Stewardship” 54 Sharing the Story of the Foreign Service with Lifelong Learners 59 55 Meet the AFSA Committee: Awards & Plaques 56 Retiree Corner—Keeping Your Eye on the Bottom Line 58 Russian Roundtable: FSOs Speak with AFSA about Their Sudden Exit 57 AFSA Welcomes 146th Specialist Class 59 Essay Contest Highlights Importance 57 AFSA Governing Board Meeting, October 2017 of U.S. Global Leadership 58 Book Notes: Global Adventures 60 Reigning Cats and Dogs in the Foreign Service on Less-Traveled Roads On the Cover: Images of diplomacy at work—Top, from left: U.S. Ambassador Mark C. Storella, Zambian Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane and Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao shake hands on signing the PEPFAR framework in November 2010; U.S. Chargé d’Affaires James P. DeHart with Norwegian Defense Ministry Director Mette Sorfonden signing a contract to purchase Boeing maritime patrol aircraft in March 2017 (Photo: Asgier Spange Brekke); U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Lynn Pascoe (left) and USAID Director Bill Frej load supplies for Aceh after the tsunami in December 2004. Second row, from left: General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Ambas- sador John R. Bass attend a meeting with Turkey’s senior military leadership in Ankara in November 2016; U.S. Consul General Rena Bitter, of CG Ho Chi Minh City, and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius at a temple restoration project in April 2016; Yezidi refugees who escaped from the Islamic State group talk with FSO Refugee Coordinator Matthew Johnson in Mardin, Turkey, in December 2014. Cover design by Caryn Suko Smith. 6 DECEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Time to Ask Why BY BARBARA STEPHENSON open this column as I closed my last Service officer corps at State has lost 60 as a key indicator of the health of the one, with a reminder that we, the percent of its Career Ambassadors since institution. What does it tell us, then, that members of the career Foreign Ser- January. Ranks of Career Ministers, our we are on track to have fewer than half I vice, have an obligation as stewards of three-star equivalents, are down from as many people take the Foreign Service our institution to be effective advocates 33 to 19. The ranks of our two-star Min- Officer Test this year? for why diplomacy matters. That requires ister Counselors have fallen from 431 As the shape and extent of the staff- some skill in explaining how diplomacy right after Labor Day to 359 today—and ing cuts to the Foreign Service at State works—the focus of this month’s edition are still falling. become clearer, I believe we must shine of The Foreign Service Journal. These numbers are hard to square a light on these disturbing trends and ask While raising awareness of and appre- with the stated agenda of making State “why?” and “to what end?” ciation for the Foreign Service is a long- and the Foreign Service stronger. Were Congress rejected drastic cuts to State standing goal, one AFSA has pursued with the U.S. military to face such a decapi- and USAID funding. The Senate labeled renewed vigor and impact over the past tation of its leadership ranks, I would the proposed cuts a “doctrine of retreat” couple years, the need to make the case expect a public outcry. and directed that appropriated funds for the Foreign Service with fellow Ameri- Like the military, the Foreign Service “shall support” staffing State at not less cans and our elected representatives has recruits officers at entry level and than Sept. 30, 2016, levels, and further taken on a new urgency. The cover of the grows them into seasoned leaders over directed that “The Secretary of State shall Time magazine that arrived as I was writ- decades. The talent being shown the continue A-100 entry-level classes for ing this column jarred me with its graphic door now is not only our top talent, but FSOs in a manner similar to prior years.” of wrecking balls and warning of “disman- also talent that cannot be replicated Given this clear congressional intent, tling government as we know it.” overnight. The rapid loss of so many we have to ask: Why such a focus on While I do my best, as principal senior officers has a serious, immediate slashing staffing at State? Why such a advocate for our institution and as a and tangible effect on the capacity of the focus on decapitating leadership? How do seasoned American diplomat, to model United States to shape world events. these actions serve the stated agenda of responsible, civil discourse, there is Meanwhile, the self-imposed hiring making the State Department stronger? simply no denying the warning signs freeze is taking its toll at the entry level. Remember, nine in 10 Americans favor that point to mounting threats to our Intake into the Foreign Service at State a strong global leadership role for our institution—and to the global leader- will drop from 366 in 2016 to around 100 great country, and we know from per- ship that depends on us. new entry-level officers joining A-100 in sonal experience that such leadership is There is no denying that our leader- 2018 (including 60 Pickering and Rangel unthinkable without a strong professional ship ranks are Fellows). Foreign Service deployed around the being depleted at Not surprisingly, given the blocked world protecting and defending America’s a dizzying speed, entry path, interest in joining the Foreign people, interests and values. due in part to the Service is plummeting. I wrote with pride Where then, does the impetus come decision to slash in my March 2016 column that “more from to weaken the American Foreign promotion num- than 17,000 people applied to take the Service? Where is the mandate to pull the bers by more than Foreign Service Officer Test last year,” cit- Foreign Service team from the field and half. The Foreign ing interest in joining the Foreign Service forfeit the game to our adversaries? n Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2017 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Managing Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Associate Editor CONTACTS Donna Gorman: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Publications Coordinator (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Controller Ad & Circulation Manager USAID AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Assistant Controller Art Director FCS AFSA Office: Cory Nishi: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Advertising Intern COMMUNICATIONS GOVERNING BOARD Ho-Hsuan “Milo” Hsieh: [email protected] Director of Communications President Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] Editorial Board Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Online Communications Manager Eric Green, Chair [email protected] Jeff Lau: [email protected] James “Jim” Bever Secretary Outreach and Communications Specialist Angela Bond Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected] Allan Saunders: [email protected] M.