ASSIGNMENT AFGHANISTAN: ONE OF OUR HIGHEST FOREIGN

UNCLAS STATE 062907


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER AMGT AF
SUBJECT: ASSIGNMENT AFGHANISTAN: ONE OF OUR HIGHEST FOREIGN
POLICY PRIORITIES


1. Afghanistan is receiving the high-level policy attention
needed to safeguard America's security and rebuild that war-
torn country. As President Obama said, "We are in Afghanistan
to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States,
our friends and allies, and the people of Afghanistan." The
work we do here ensures our nation's security. But we need
your help. Our Mission is rapidly expanding and we need the
Service's best and most dedicated personnel in order to
succeed.


2. This is a pivotal period in the history of Afghanistan and
a critical time to be part of Mission Afghanistan. We are not
looking for warm bodies to fill positions; we need the best of
the best. The hours are long, the work is hard, the
conditions are tough, but the satisfaction will be greater
than anything you have experienced in your career. The
Afghans are truly inspirational. The challenges of helping
them bring their country back from the brink, ensuring
stability and security for their countrymen and ours,
promoting justice, stimulating licit economic activity and
attracting young people into legitimate employment are complex
and difficult. This effort requires a very diverse and
dedicated workforce in Mission Afghanistan. And that's why we
need our best.


3. Our people choose the most challenging assignments in our
service for a complex mix of reasons. We all balance several
factors - policy impact, professional development, family
support, financial incentives, and career goals. And one more
- the deeper motivation to serve in the most important venue,
at the most important time, and under some of the toughest
living and working conditions in the Foreign Service. We need
people to serve in Afghanistan who are able to manage
independently, work and live collegially, expect a heavy
workload, have relevant substantive experience, and are highly
motivated to contribute to making history.


4. Our mission presence is growing, not only in Kabul, but
across the countryside as our focus on the provinces expands.
Our watch words are "Unity of Effort" and "Whole Government".
We are bringing all aspects of our operations - military,
diplomatic, and development assistance - into closer
integration to develop synergy and to create and exploit
opportunities. Officers and staff of all levels and
specialties have opportunities to play key roles in this
effort, whether reporting on local governance issues at the
grassroots level, ensuring people, equipment, material and
information get to where they need to be on time, or looking
strategically at USG goals. Every person, every position, is
important.


5. We ask that you seriously consider that now is the time
for you to step up and make a difference. We will not lose in
Afghanistan, but we cannot afford not to win. Some of our
best people have come to serve in Afghanistan; some of them
repeatedly. To succeed, all who serve here must be our best
in their specialties. Each member of the team here bears much
more than her or his responsibility in an ordinary U.S.
diplomatic mission.


6. For more information on bidding on Afghanistan, check out
Assignment ? Afghanistan on the State Department Intranet
Homepage. For information about life and work in Afghanistan,
check out our CLO Sharepoint site at:
http://sca.p.state.sbu/sites/kabul/clo/defaul t.aspx


7. Minimize Considered.


CLINTON