[War] US: Stepping up our game

[pentaj2 at Scranton.edu]

"Stepping up our game"
18 October 2006
Pres. John Williams
USA
=======================

It was 8 am. For the first time anyone could remember, the President 
was late to a meeting.

But then, 10 minutes late, he strode in, raising a hand to keep 
everyone in their seats.

"My apologies for the lateness, everybody. Kay had a really bad bout 
of morning sickness," he apologized. It had been an easy pregnancy 
thusfar; This was the first experience with morning sickness they'd 
had yet.

In the Oval Office was Condi Rice, Secretary of Education Margaret 
Spellings, Rob Portman (the director of OMB), and Candi Wolff (the 
head of the legislative affairs office), as well as Josh Bolten.

"If I remember correctly, the topic on the agenda is what I'm 
calling 'Foreign Service ROTC'. Secretary Rice, if you could describe 
the program for everyone else?" Williams asked.

"Yes, Mr. President. As a part of expanding and upgrading the Foreign 
Service, the Department has decided to borrow a page from the Pentagon 
and, essentially, begin training FSOs among the nation's college 
students. The plan would be thus," Secretary Rice began.

"The Department would engage retired Foreign Service Officers, and 
those active FSOs who would otherwise be "on the shelf" and between 
assignments for a period of time, as instructors teaching courses on 
the tradecraft of diplomacy, in the same way as the services post 
personnel to serve on ROTC cadres.

"In exchange for service in the Foreign Service for a period of time 
after graduation, the Department would pay the "Foreign Service 
Cadet"'s tuition, plus a stipend.

"The required curriculum would be set by a Foreign Service board, but 
will include requirements that, by graduation, the prospective Foreign 
Service Officer pass the Foreign Service Exam and possess ILR scores 
of at least level 3+ in Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening in 
at least one language besides English. This will be tested at multiple 
points during the program, but the candidate must reach 3+/3+/3+/3+ by 
graduation.

"Summer programs will be of varying durations, and include language 
immersion, service in the consular or administrative sections of 
posts, or other possibilities."

"Mrs. Spellings," Williams asked, "how enthusiastic do you think most 
colleges would be?"

"Oh, very enthusiastic, Mr. President. Getting institutions, public 
and private, to agree to a program that would guarantee their students 
service with the State Department if they complete the requirements? 
They'd have to be braindead not to take up the offer," The SecEd 
replied. "It's an excellent idea, and falls into the 'why didn't we 
think of it sooner?' category."

"Ms. Wolff? Congressionally, what are we looking at?"

"It's a new program and new expenses, sir, but I think you'd easily 
get bipartisan support for this, regardless. I can't see major 
objections to it besides cost."

"I try not to make the deficit worse," Williams mused, "But damn, this 
is an expensive period in American history. Rob, work the numbers with 
PPS at State? Let's see what a rollout would cost."

A pause.

"Madam Secretary, where'd this idea come from?" he asked.

"You telling stories about ROTC the other night."

Laughter from everybody, after Williams retorted, "I'm not as old as 
you make me sound!"

Josh Bolten replied, after everybody calmed down, "It's a great idea. 
Yeah, the average American may not like the idea of new foreign policy 
programs in a time of deficit, but I think they'd take this."

"OK, then. It's a go. Let's try to roll this out by next September." 
Williams replied.
---
Actions:
1. Propose the "Foreign Service Officer Training Corps":
A. Program to mandate ILR levels of at least 3+ in Reading, Speaking, 
Listening, and Writing in at least one language besides English (from 
a list of eligible languages), completion of the Foreign Service 
equivalent of ROTC military science courses (taught by retired FSOs, 
or active FSOs between assignments long enough to do a school year), 
and summer programs to be decided upon and designed by the Department.
B. All Cadets must be US Citizens, and able to hold a SECRET clearance.
C. DOS will pay tuition for all contracted cadets, in exchange for a 
term of service in the Foreign Service. Courses and program, in 
Freshman and Sophomore years, to also be available to non-contracted.
D. You may not simultaneously hold ROTC and FSOYC contracts. Sorry.
2. Pitch the program to 4-year schools nationwide.
3. Pitch it to Congress to get the necessary legislation passed.
4. Get the cost numbers from OMB.