The Foreign Service Journal, May 2016

the Foreign Service journal | may 2016 33 The failure of the central registry to gain better traction is a disservice to both the Foreign Service and FS retirees. Highly skilled, experienced and motivated Foreign Service retirees will continue to be lost in the REA shuffle until that is fixed. A Few Tips In the meantime, here are some practical suggestions to maximize your chances of finding an REA assignment: k Do not wait until your last day on the payroll to begin net- working with REA coordinators in former bureaus. Many more potential candidates are available than there are REA opportuni- ties, so being proactive is essential. Get your name out there. k Try to link up with a bureau as early as possible to ensure that appropriate clearances do not lapse. k Once on a bureau register, stay in touch with the bureau’s REA coordinator. Admittedly, visits to the department become more difficult after you have turned in your building access badge to Diplomatic Security, but a retiree badge will give you limited access. k Consult the Career Transition Center’s Job Search Program and RNet for guidance in navigating the REA system. k Be flexible about when and where you will work, without regard to rank or level of job responsibility. k In addition to cultivating a relationship with the bureau where you want to work, sign onto the HRSC central registry. Even though REA opportunities via this mechanismmay be slim, there is no downside to at least placing your name with HR. But put most of your energy toward working the bureau assignment. k If you have questions or need contact information, consult AFSA’s “Re-Employed Annuitant Program Fact Sheet” at bit.ly/1SVvUZj. k Finally, do not look at REA work as a retiree entitlement. It most definitely is not. Instead, consider it a potential backup, Plan B or C, while you follow through on your Plan A. n