I do have a home where I dust and vacuum at least twice a year. Joking. I think I mentioned my addiction to finding vacuum bags for my old vacuum that never had engineered obsolescence. The housekeeper is expected twice a year when Spring and Fall Cleaning happens and there needs to be a change in draperies. The oven is self-cleaning. Thank god.
11. The Board supports the State Department’s initiative to request additional Marines and expand the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Program (click here) – as well as corresponding requirements for staffing and funding. The Board also recommends that the State Department and DoD identify additional flexible MSG structures and request further resources for the Department and DoD to provide more capabilities and capacities at higher risk posts.
Here it is. The change that will empower the State Department to be the most secure facility in the city.
STAFFING HIGH RISK, HIGH THREAT POSTS
12. The Board strongly endorses the Department’s request for increased DS personnel for high- and critical-threat posts and for additional Mobile Security Deployment teams, as well as an increase in DS domestic staffing (click here) in support of such action.
13. The Department should assign key policy, program, and security personnel at high risk, high threat posts for a minimum of one year....
Everyone catch that? ...minimum of one year... Why?
This is probably the best indication of the value of our Foreign Service within the brain trust of the USA. The work requires dedication. It requires preparedness. And the LENGTH of service in one place not only provides a strong working basis to any Foreign Service personnel, it brings stability to the staffing with the ability to respond to anticipated changes in that personnel. Here again, the best example of how length of service builds a knowledge base for the USA's security and programs is the late Ambassador Stevens. He was incredible. The only thing that out classed Ambassador Stevens dedication was his intellect that came with him from the first day of service.
...For less critical personnel, the temporary duty length (TDY) length should be no less than 120 days. The ARB (Accountability Review Board) suggests a comprehensive review of human resources authorities with an eye to using those authorities to promote sending more experienced officers, including “When Actually Employed” (WAE) personnel, to these high risk, high threat locations, particularly in security and management positions for longer periods of time.
It becomes the back yard syndrome. No one knows your backyard better than you. Same sort thing. The longer a person is exposed to a work environment and the "geography" the better they are at it. It is easy to understand how that is the case.
14. The Department needs to review the staffing footprints at high risk, high threat posts, with particular attention to ensuring adequate Locally Employed Staff (LES) and management support. High risk, high threat posts must be funded and the human resources process prioritized to hire LES interpreters and translators.
The USA uses translators all the time. But, this is basically to facilitate safety so the geography and culture are known. NO TRIP WIRES.
15. With increased and more complex diplomatic activities in the Middle East, the Department should enhance its ongoing efforts to significantly upgrade its language capacity, especially Arabic, among American employees, including DS, and receive greater resources to do so.
At the beginning of the response to September 11, 2001; one of the first statements coming out of the military is it's lack of personnel anywhere in government to the Arab language. That is not allowed anymore.
11. The Board supports the State Department’s initiative to request additional Marines and expand the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Program (click here) – as well as corresponding requirements for staffing and funding. The Board also recommends that the State Department and DoD identify additional flexible MSG structures and request further resources for the Department and DoD to provide more capabilities and capacities at higher risk posts.
Here it is. The change that will empower the State Department to be the most secure facility in the city.
STAFFING HIGH RISK, HIGH THREAT POSTS
12. The Board strongly endorses the Department’s request for increased DS personnel for high- and critical-threat posts and for additional Mobile Security Deployment teams, as well as an increase in DS domestic staffing (click here) in support of such action.
13. The Department should assign key policy, program, and security personnel at high risk, high threat posts for a minimum of one year....
Everyone catch that? ...minimum of one year... Why?
This is probably the best indication of the value of our Foreign Service within the brain trust of the USA. The work requires dedication. It requires preparedness. And the LENGTH of service in one place not only provides a strong working basis to any Foreign Service personnel, it brings stability to the staffing with the ability to respond to anticipated changes in that personnel. Here again, the best example of how length of service builds a knowledge base for the USA's security and programs is the late Ambassador Stevens. He was incredible. The only thing that out classed Ambassador Stevens dedication was his intellect that came with him from the first day of service.
...For less critical personnel, the temporary duty length (TDY) length should be no less than 120 days. The ARB (Accountability Review Board) suggests a comprehensive review of human resources authorities with an eye to using those authorities to promote sending more experienced officers, including “When Actually Employed” (WAE) personnel, to these high risk, high threat locations, particularly in security and management positions for longer periods of time.
It becomes the back yard syndrome. No one knows your backyard better than you. Same sort thing. The longer a person is exposed to a work environment and the "geography" the better they are at it. It is easy to understand how that is the case.
14. The Department needs to review the staffing footprints at high risk, high threat posts, with particular attention to ensuring adequate Locally Employed Staff (LES) and management support. High risk, high threat posts must be funded and the human resources process prioritized to hire LES interpreters and translators.
The USA uses translators all the time. But, this is basically to facilitate safety so the geography and culture are known. NO TRIP WIRES.
15. With increased and more complex diplomatic activities in the Middle East, the Department should enhance its ongoing efforts to significantly upgrade its language capacity, especially Arabic, among American employees, including DS, and receive greater resources to do so.
At the beginning of the response to September 11, 2001; one of the first statements coming out of the military is it's lack of personnel anywhere in government to the Arab language. That is not allowed anymore.
