UPDATE ON DIPLOMACY 3.0 FOREIGN SERVICE HIRING

UNCLAS STATE 049666 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL; INFORM CONSULS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT APER SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DIPLOMACY 3.0 FOREIGN SERVICE HIRING (2009) ¶1. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the significant progress we have made to date in implementing Diplomacy 3.0 (diplomacy, development and defense) - an unprecedented increase in Department of State hiring that will provide us with much-needed resources. This increase will allow us to staff offices and missions currently suffering vacancies while meeting our commitments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, to provide additional language training to generalists and specialists alike, and to establish rigorous training programs to further professional development across the board. Ultimately Diplomacy 3.0 will allow us to eliminate the mid-level deficit, build a training complement, and strengthen our service with the right mix of entry-level, mid-level and senior employees. ¶2. Including hiring to replace attrition, we plan to hire more than 700 entry-level Foreign Service generalists, 550 Foreign Service Specialists, and nearly 1,000 Civil Service personnel. Most new Foreign Service officers will be placed in existing entry-level jobs or into positions that are currently vacant or frozen and would likely not be filled otherwise. Most will be assigned overseas, but a number will be assigned to selected one-year domestic positions before heading out overseas. A small number will be assigned to mid- level positions that have temporarily been reconfigured for entry-level officers. Diplomacy 3.0 funding also is being used to create 20 new public diplomacy positions which will enable us to give more entry-level officers PD experience prior to tenure. ¶3. Some mid-level personnel maybe concerned about the availability of jobs for them with this approach. Let me put to rest those concerns. There will be plenty of challenging and professionally rewarding jobs this bidding cycle for officers and specialists at all levels. We will have a continuing need for officers and specialists to serve in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Opportunities in these three countries will be announced soon, and I encourage everyone to consider how they can best contribute to the success of these high-priority missions. ¶4. Diplomacy 3.0 funding will be used to create 20 new POLAD positions, many for mid-level officers. These assignments are professionally and personally rewarding and provide excellent career development opportunities. We are working on a series of exchanges and other training opportunities that will be of interest to many mid-level and senior officers. Finally, many mid-level overseas and domestic opportunities will open in 2010 as a result of normal rotations and be available to mid- level bidders. Do not overlook these domestic assignments. Becoming familiar with the workings of Washington early in your career is valuable and can help set the stage for promotion to higher grades. This is true for any cone. ¶5. In short, there will be opportunities for mid-level officers and specialists. The increase in entry-level hires will provide many mid-level officers with opportunities to mentor and supervise these new officers and gain management experience necessary for promotion to higher ranks. ¶6. I am pleased with our progress to date in meeting the goals of Diplomacy 3.0. The Department is recruiting many talented, Americans from all over our country. I will look to you, our experienced colleagues to support and mentor these new officers and specialists as they join our growing ranks. Diplomacy 3.0 is our best opportunity in decades to strengthen the Department of State and its ability to meet the goals the President has placed at the top of the country's national security agenda. ¶7. Minimize considered. CLINTON