PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 2016 SPOTLIGHT ON AFSA AWARDS DIPLOMATIC TRADECRAFT: TIPS & TRENDS FOREIGN SERVICE September 2016 Volume 93, No. 7 Spotlight on AFSA Awards 24 Features A Foreign Service Trailblazer— Ambassador Ruth A. Davis 51 FSJ Editor Shawn Dorman MED’s Child & Family interviews the recipient of AFSA’s Program, Explained 2016 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award. Created in 2013, the Child and Family Program aims to streamline the 36 clearance process for families and When Prevailing ensure consistency in the support for Practice Fails: children and families. Constructive Dissent By Kathy Gallardo By relying on prevailing practice to set locally employed staff compensation, we are benefiting from the same labor 54 exploitation that we oppose as Creepy Critters a matter of U.S. foreign policy. We Have Known By Jefferson Smith Life in the tropics demands that you make peace with a range of 40 “creepy critters” you are The FSJ’s bound to encounter. “Top Ten” on Dissent By Margaret Sullivan The FSJ keeps a focus on constructive dissent—its history, its value, its practice and its outcome. 24 Focus on Diplomatic Tradecraft 41 Diplomatic Training: New Trends In foreign ministries around the world training is undergoing intensification and expansion. By Kishan Rana 47 44 47 Five Ways to Tackle a Over the Finish Line: New Language Winning Strategies for 54 Combining different language-learning a Successful Visit methods is the best bet for success. Advance planning and sustained By Elijah David Bush and initiative from mid-level officers who Todd Hughes own their ideas are the keys to a fruitful high-level visit. By Ted Osius 4 SEPTEMBER 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Departments Perspectives 11 Letters 14 Talking Points 6 100 85 In Memory President’s Views Reflections Calling It Like We See It Road Trip to Syria, 2011 90 Books By Barbara Stephenson By L a ura Me rzig Fa br ycky 9 102 Letter from the Editor Local Lens Recognizing Excellence Liberia and Courage By Andrew Pa rks By Shawn Dorman 20 16 Speaking Out Neglecting World’s Fairs Doesn’t Make Them Go Away, Marketplace So Let’s Do It Right By Beatrice Camp 93 Classifieds 96 Real Estate 20 99 Index to Advertisers AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 59 Honoring AFSA’s 2016 Award Winners 60 State VP Voice: Taking Performance Management Seriously 61 FCS VP Voice: The Golden Rule— Paradox or Words to Live By? 61 Long Term Care Premium Hikes 62 Retiree VP Voice: In Defense of Dissent 63 Introducing the Labor Management Team 66 To Soar Like a Phoenix 67 67 AFSA Award Winner Profiles 75 Using Diplomacy to Meet the New Threat Set 76 AFSA Governing Board Meetings: June and July 81 LGBT+ in Foreign Affairs 77 Celebrating Strategic Writing 82 2016 Foreign Service Youth Awards 78 DS Begins Recording Interviews 83 AFSA Nat'l High School Essay Contest Winner 79 USAID Honors Fallen Colleagues 83 FEGLI Open Season in September 80 Forging Foreign Service Alliances in the Rockies 84 Editorial Board Hail and Farewell On the Cover: The 2016 recipients of AFSA’s awards for lifetime contributions, dissent and exemplary performance. At center, Ambassador Ruth A. Davis (photo by Joaquin Sosa). Clockwise from top left, Shawn Akard, teaching a class in Jordan; Jefferson Smith, far right, with members of the Locally Employed Staff Committee; Toni Kula, coordinating the embassy beach cleanup drive; Karn Carlson; John Naland; Sara Locke, far right, at the Embassy Beirut Fourth of July party; Mike Honigstein, center, at the Write to Reconcile conference. All photos courtesy of the named individuals. Cover art design by Gemma Dvorak. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2016 5 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Calling It Like We See It BY BARBARA STEPHENSON his month’s Journal covers the robust definition of dissent in time for “The Dissent Channel,” next page). AFSA annual awards ceremony next year’s nomination process. This The same obligations to speak up and spotlights the 2016 award column is meant to contribute to that apply for matters related to the manage- Twinners. This makes for inspir- thought process and invite your input. ment of our own institution, not just for ing reading, as we explore what our col- We in the Foreign Service deploy classic foreign policy issues. We must all leagues are doing to achieve our collective worldwide—to protect and serve, yes, but think of ourselves as stewards of the For- mission. One friend now serving at the also to understand the local context and eign Service and act accordingly, working Foreign Service Institute tells me she call it like we see it. Sometimes Wash- to establish and maintain well-function- scours the AFSA awards write-ups for case ington wants us to deliver something we ing embassy platforms and healthy career studies to highlight best practices in her know is not achievable in that context. paths for the next generation. Because the training classes. Sometimes we know that even trying Dissent Channel is restricted to “substan- The annual awards ceremony is a would cause a backlash and impede tive policy” issues, dissent on manage- great AFSA tradition, one that recognizes achievement of other goals. ment matters must be conducted through excellence and courage. The AFSA awards It is our obligation to point that out, to other channels. program makes our profession stronger. offer our best judgment and, when pos- The AFSA awards program recognizes AFSA gives a variety of awards—one sible, alternatives (see “Foreign Service constructive dissent on management for Lifetime Contributions to American Core Precepts,” below). This is the basis issues as well as foreign policy issues. Diplomacy, several outstanding perfor- for constructive dissent as we have tradi- This year’s Rivkin Award winner is a great mance awards and, unique in the U.S. tionally defined it. The State Department’s example of the former. government, four awards for constructive Dissent Channel is one way—the institu- Lest we come across as simply dissent—at the entry level, mid-level, tional vehicle—to deliver that dissent (see nay-sayers (as we might to interagency senior level and by a specialist. This year, after the kind of spirited, principled debate that represents AFSA FOREIGN SERVICE CORE PRECEPTS at its best, only one award for dissent Excerpt from the Core Precepts was granted. Governing Board and Decision Criteria for Tenure and Promotion in the Foreign Service Awards Committee members agreed on Leadership Skills/Openness to Dissent and Differing Views the need for better, clearer guidance on Entry-Level: Exhibits moral courage and intellectual integrity. Publicly supports what constitutes dissent in the Foreign official decisions while using appropriate dissent channels in case of disagreement. Service—beginning with how to distin- Resolves disputes using appropriate mechanisms. guish between dissent and the equally Mid-Level: Encourages frank communication with colleagues and subordinates. important, but Discerns when well-founded constructive dissent is justified; advocates policy distinct, act of tak- alternatives and guides staff to do the same. Recognizes employee dissent through ing initiative and awards programs. finding innovative Senior-Level: Encourages and expects personnel to express opinions and to use ways to approach dissent channels; accords importance to well-founded constructive dissent and challenges. solicits, weighs, and defends its appropriate expression. Recognizes and supports We resolved to moral courage. produce a more Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL partners whose leadership principles do The Foreign Service adds tremendous value not embrace dissent as fully as ours), let every time we advise with precision about what me note that we routinely add as much value pointing out what will work as we will work, and what won’t work, in the local do pointing out what won’t work. context at our posts. We who typically understand the local context better than anyone else in the U.S. government are often the first to see that a long-shot goal might just be achievable and it is often the basis for well-founded I am convinced, when we feel insecure in if we frame the arguments a certain way, constructive dissent. our careers. avoid that third rail, garner support from There is something else to consider. When, for example, mid-level officers this key group while not alerting another When AFSA gives only one award for need to worry about there being more too early. dissent, a question naturally arises: Is the bidders than jobs, or when senior officers Delivering on those long-shot goals space for constructive dissent closing? see their career paths blocked by appoin- may show incredible, even unusual, This is both a fair question and a power- tees from outside the Foreign Service, we initiative and innovation. It may be out- ful, foundational one, given our role in the shouldn’t be surprised if dissent declines. standing performance, but it’s not dissent. interagency “ecosystem.” Our dissent awards honor those who The Foreign Service adds tremendous Pointing out that something Washing- stand up and call it like they see it. We all value every time we advise with preci- ton wants just won’t fly requires cour- need to defend the space for constructive sion about what will work and what won’t age and often risks repercussions. The dissent, which is, in my view, inextricably work in the local context at our posts. perceived price for doing the right thing, intertwined with defending a strong, pro- This is a core role of the Foreign Service, for engaging in constructive dissent, rises, fessional career Foreign Service.