Writing For DS Personnel

Whether it’s drafting cables, Employee Evaluation Reports (EER), or Weekly Activity Reports (WAR), DS employees seem to find writing among the most challenging skill to develop. The distaste for writing causes many to avoid it at all costs, a problem that is exacerbated every EER season and as one rises through the ranks. Compounding the problem is that writing for the Department of State is a very different and nuanced type of writing. Like many other critical skills, effective writing is both a learned (not innate) and perishable skill. It is therefore one that must be practiced regularly and voluntarily. 

In addition to developing one’s writing skills, writing for a (wider) Department and even external audience has multiple benefits, among them are “getting your name out there,” building the DS brand, and demonstrating DS employees as foreign policy advisors and enablers (to name but a few).   Below are a few examples of how employees—of many skill codes—can gain experience in writing and help shape the organization. 

There are at least four standard annual reports that embassies and consulates very often (upwards of 50% of the time) omit the Regional Security Office when drafting and/or clearing:

1) Human Rights Report – HRR (usually POL portfolio). Human rights violations are crimes which should prompt Political officers to seek a law enforcement perspective. Furthermore, HRR submissions often include allegations of police abuse of authority, intimidation, and/or excessive use of force.

2) Trafficking In Persons – TIP (usually POL portfolio). Like the human rights issue, TIP is an international crime and is usually connected with/perpetrated to facilitate other crimes (forced labor, prostitution, drug trafficking, etc.). 

3) Country Report On Terrorism (usually POL portfolio). In many cases, RSO is the only law enforcement presence at post as well as the Chief of Mission’s primary advisor on security. Despite this fact, RSO is not the lead and is often times excluded from the report.  

4) Country Fraud Report (CON portfolio). As the law enforcement/investigative arm of the Department, RSO/ARSO-I input is essential for this report to be comprehensive and complete. 

In cases where posts exclude RSO from these reports, it’s critically important for RSOs (along with other US federal law enforcement presence at post) to educate post leadership, other sections, and inter-agency partners about the importance, value, and need for law enforcement input.  It is imperative that the RSOs assist in drafting and at a minimum, clearing on such reports (which becomes public and has implications that can adversely affect the bilateral law enforcement relationship). The omission of RSO input renders such reporting incomplete and therefore ineffective as a means to inform policy decisions.

Other topics for which employees can write about is virtually limitless, but from an RSO perspective, the following should be considered at a minimum. 

1) Host Nation Capabilities and Limitations. Though some may contest the assertion (on technical grounds), DS Agents are Foreign Service Officers (FSOs). Despite being in a “specialist” track, they are as much externally oriented as they are internally oriented. They implement capacity building programs, conduct bilateral investigations and liaison, and have a pulse on the security environment at post and country. The information generated from these activities are the substance of valuable cables to inform DC interlocutors about the capabilities and limitations of host nation law enforcement.

2) Capturing US Assistance (ILEA/ATA/SPEAR) Impact/Outcomes. The U.S. taxpayers spend an inordinate amount on foreign assistance; funds that are often times in the cross hairs of legislators looking to cut foreign aid. RSOs have an inherent responsibility to provide feedback to policy makers that measure the effectiveness of the U.S. Government’s investment in each program. 

3) Corruption Reporting (usually POL portfolio). Corruption reporting usually addresses systemic issues in a host nation’s government apparatus, which includes security and law enforcement agencies. It may also address rampant corruption in the private sector, a factor that could affect U.S. businesses (OSAC constituents) and raise Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) concerns (a law enforcement matter). 

DS fulfills a critical an unmatched role in global security and international law enforcement. Our global presence coupled with our unique mission provides a perspective and depth of knowledge others cannot provide. These insights can and should be shared—with DS/PA’s concurrence/clearance—with the foreign affairs, security, and law enforcement communities through professional journals.  The Professional Associations section of this web page provides numerous organizations which publish periodic journals (usually monthly) that seek practitioner input. This need provides an opportunity for DS personnel to build their writing skills while strengthening their respective fields by sharing information. 

Whether you are drafting a cable or your EER, how you communicate shapes others’ perception of you and your competence.  It also determines the outcome if you are trying to secure buy-in, resources, and/or approval.  Take advantage of FSI’s writing courses (and any other that promote, strengthen, or enhance) your soft skills.  While many people are convinced that they write well, the products often suggest a different reality.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL PAY YOU TO ATTEND THIS TRAINING.  WHY WOULD YOU NOT GO?