VZCZCXRO3744
PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT
RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHSN #1215/01 2981747
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241747Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0225
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN SALVADOR 001215 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA, FSI AMD HR/CDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT ES
SUBJECT: 2008 WHA CONFERENCE PROVIDES ENTRY LEVEL 
PROFESSIONALS WITH NEW PERSPECTIVES 
 
¶1. Summary: Embassy San Salvador hosted the 2008 WHA Entry 
Level Professionals Conference from October 8-10.  Speakers 
led discussions on creative approaches toward diplomacy, the 
importance of focusing on democratic governments and free 
trade despite vocal opposition in the region, and the future 
of the Foreign Service.  Guest speakers encouraged 
participants to develop humor, compassion, flexibility, 
bureaucratic courage, and interpersonal skills in order to 
maximize their Foreign Service careers. The program also 
included sessions on interagency cooperation, service in 
Iraq, bidding strategies and the economic challenges facing 
the region.  Several conference participants also took 
advantage of individual and small-group sessions with key 
presenters. End Summary. 
 
¶2. Embassy San Salvador hosted 78 Entry Level Professionals 
from 33 WHA posts for the 2008 WHA Entry Level Professionals 
Conference, from October 8-10. 
 
¶3. Keynote speaker Salvadoran Foreign Minister Marisol 
Argueta de Barillas spoke about key moments in diplomatic 
history when the course of U.S. foreign policy was altered by 
individual diplomats like George F. Kennan.  Argueta said 
that the new realities of today,s world require a creative 
reinvention of diplomacy that addresses the unique challenges 
of a post 9/11 world.  She also used the occassion to 
highlight the excellent relations between the GOES and USG. 
 
¶4. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig Kelly discussed 
important initiatives that are defining U.S. relations 
throughout the region, including the Merida Initiative and 
Pathways to Prosperity.  Kelly focused on the need for ELOs 
to concentrate on doing their job well and taking care of 
their families.  He said that emerging powers like Brazil and 
India will be important players even after the dust settles 
in current political hotspots.  Kelly discussed the need for 
ELOs to seek outreach opportunities that will allow diplomats 
to personalize U.S. policy and make contact with foreign 
nationals. 
 
¶5. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli, Director of Career 
Development and Assignments for Entry Level Officers, spoke 
about the realities of today,s Foreign Service, including 
challenges posed by hardship posts like Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 He said that the number of officers with prior service in 
these areas is growing, which may make it more difficult to 
promise follow-on posts.  Officers must learn to delicately 
balance both leadership and an appreciation for current 
systems without feeling obligated to encourage change when it 
is not necessary.  Mussomeli reiterated that early promotion 
and admission to the Senior FS are not correlated, and said 
overinflated EERs made it difficult for promotion and tenure 
boards to identify deserving officers. 
 
¶6. Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern 
Command, gave a presentation on the role of Southern Command 
and the relationship between the Departments of Defense and 
State.  General Spears stressed the diversity of the Western 
Hemisphere and its importance to U.S. Foreign Policy. 
General Spears emphasized the important humanitarian role the 
U.S. military plays throughout the region, including the use 
of USS Comfort to provide medical services and disaster 
relief, especially after the recent hurricane strikes and 
subsequent flooding in Haiti. 
 
¶7. U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Charles L. Glazer spoke 
about U.S. / Salvadoran relations and mentioned close 
bilateral cooperation in counter-narcotics, other law 
enforcement, and free trade.  Ambassador Glazer highlighted 
the USG policy emphasis on public security, which is a 
priority for all the USG agencies represented at Embassy San 
Salvador.  He also hosted an event on the Embassy compound 
that offered participants a chance to tour the facility with 
the hope that some will consider working here in future 
assignments. 
 
¶8. U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Stephen McFarland related his 
recent experience as a team leader on a PRT in Anbar 
Province, Iraq.  McFarland said that expeditionary diplomacy 
has a long history within the Foreign Service.  Service on 
PRTs and other expeditionary units will provide officers with 
unique service opportunities in non-traditional fields like 
humanitarian and refugee services, advising foreign forces, 
and government reconstruction.  Security is a serious 
concern, and officers should consider their own ability to 
cope with security risks before they volunteer for high risk 
expeditionary posts. 
 
¶9. Ambassador Rose Likins, Deputy Director, FSI, encouraged 
officers to look closely at distance learning opportunities 
 
SAN SALVAD 00001215  002 OF 002 
 
 
with FSI.  She said, via video conference, that officers who 
found a job within the service that they loved and performed 
it well were most likely to move ahead. 
 
¶10. Steve Kashkett, VP of AFSA, and Mira Piplani, Post 
Management Officer, both discussed bidding strategies and 
career advice.  Kashkett said officers should be working hard 
to change negative perceptions of the Foreign Service from 
recent media reports, and encouraged officers to write to 
their Congressman and local papers regarding pay disparities 
and challenges that diplomats face today.  Piplani identified 
two distinct bidding strategies for third tour officers.  She 
said officers can either pursue a post they really want by 
networking and lobbying or wait for the last-minute posts 
that come up late in the cycle after many people have already 
accepted an offer. 
 
¶11. Throughout the conference attendees were able to meet 
individually with AFSA and CDA representatives.  Small group 
discussion were available to further address professional 
issues such as EERs, outreach, working with LES, and 
unaccompanied tours.  Other guests and speakers - including 
leading Salvadoran economists and a representative from the 
Heritage Foundation - addressed regional economic concerns, 
changes in consular workflow, and evolving political trends. 
 
¶12.  The 2008 WHA ELP Conference was an excellent opportunity 
for generalists and specialists from across the region to 
enhance their understanding of both career concerns and 
regional policy issues.  The conference succeeded in 
attracting well informed and high profile speakers from both 
inside and outside the department.  A majority of posts in 
the bureau were able to send at least one participant to the 
conference.  ELOs left the conference with a better 
understanding of the challenges they face as officers in a 
changing region.  Participants broadly agreed that this and 
similar ELP conferences can help new officers better 
understand how to navigate difficult processes within the 
Department.  The conference also enhanced networking 
opportunities for officers within the region and provided 
each officer with a regional perspective on U.S. policy. 
 
¶13.  Embassy San Salvador ELP's would like to thank speakers 
and participants for their contributions that made this event 
a success. 
GLAZER