AFSAnet: Msg from AFSA FCS VP Donald Businger and AFSA Rep Stephen Anderson

1) First, Holiday greetings to all of you worldwide from your AFSA VP
Donald Businger and AFSA Rep Stephen Anderson. We hope to send more
AFSAnets next year, especially as the results of our recent FCS survey
come in and are tabulated.

2) Here's a quick summary to date of the results with 60 officers
(about one-third) having already responded:

-- 82% are overseas; 32% never served domestic tours, 53% served in
USEAC, 78% are non-SFS; 98% agree overseas compatibility pay should be
AFSA priority;

-- Direct assignments opposed by 58%; willing to serve in Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan at 32%; not choose to volunteer due to security
concerns at 69% and separation from family at 55%;

-- Overall conditions of work for professional Foreign Service
worsening for 65%; domestic assignments to USEACS necessary for 42%; not
necessary for 49%.

5) Note that these results are partial, first impressions. We
encourage you strongly to complete this survey ( www.zoomerang.com ) --
you were e-mailed the link by AFSA on 12/13/2007 as follows:

FCS Assignments & Services Survey 2007
--> http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2278BTMA6HJ

Any problems contact us at donald.businger@mail.doc.gov or
stephen.anderson@mail.doc.gov or for technical help at:
afsa@afsa.org.