R 142217Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI

UNCLAS STATE 049666 
 
 
FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL; INFORM CONSULS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT APER
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DIPLOMACY 3.0 FOREIGN SERVICE HIRING 
(2009) 
 
¶1.  I would like to take this opportunity to update you 
on the significant progress we have made to date in 
implementing Diplomacy 3.0 (diplomacy, development and 
defense) - an unprecedented increase in Department of 
State hiring that will provide us with much-needed 
resources.  This increase will allow us to staff offices 
and missions currently suffering vacancies while meeting 
our commitments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, to 
provide additional language training to generalists and 
specialists alike, and to establish rigorous training 
programs to further professional development across the 
board.  Ultimately Diplomacy 3.0 will allow us to 
eliminate the mid-level deficit, build a training 
complement, and strengthen our service with the right mix 
of entry-level, mid-level and senior employees. 
 
¶2.  Including hiring to replace attrition, we plan to 
hire more than 700 entry-level Foreign Service 
generalists, 550 Foreign Service Specialists, and nearly 
1,000 Civil Service personnel.  Most new Foreign Service 
officers will be placed in existing entry-level jobs or 
into positions that are currently vacant or 
frozen and would likely not be filled otherwise.  Most 
will be assigned overseas, but a number will be assigned 
to selected one-year domestic positions before heading 
out overseas.  A small number will be assigned to mid- 
level positions that have temporarily been reconfigured 
for entry-level officers.  Diplomacy 3.0 funding also is 
being used to create 20 new public diplomacy positions 
which will enable us to give more entry-level officers PD 
experience prior to tenure. 
 
¶3.  Some mid-level personnel maybe concerned about the 
availability of jobs for them with this approach.  Let me 
put to rest those concerns.  There will be plenty of 
challenging and professionally rewarding jobs this 
bidding cycle for officers and specialists at all levels. 
We will have a continuing need for officers and 
specialists to serve in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. 
Opportunities in these three countries will be announced 
soon, and I encourage everyone to consider how they can 
best contribute to the success of these high-priority 
missions. 
 
¶4.  Diplomacy 3.0 funding will be used to create 20 new 
POLAD positions, many for mid-level officers.  These 
assignments are professionally and personally rewarding 
and provide excellent career development opportunities. 
We are working on a series of exchanges and other 
training opportunities that will be of interest to many 
mid-level and senior officers.  Finally, many mid-level 
overseas and domestic opportunities will open in 2010 as 
a result of normal rotations and be available to mid- 
level bidders.  Do not overlook these domestic 
assignments.  Becoming familiar with the workings of 
Washington early in your career is valuable and can help 
set the stage for promotion to higher grades.  This is 
true for any cone. 
 
¶5.  In short, there will be opportunities for mid-level 
officers and specialists.  The increase in entry-level 
hires will provide many mid-level officers with 
opportunities to mentor and supervise these new officers 
and gain management experience necessary for promotion to 
higher ranks. 
 
¶6.  I am pleased with our progress to date in meeting the 
goals of Diplomacy 3.0.  The Department is recruiting 
many talented, Americans from all over our country.  I 
will look to you, our experienced colleagues to support 
and mentor these new officers and specialists as they 
join our growing ranks.  Diplomacy 3.0 is our best 
opportunity in decades to strengthen the Department of 
State and its ability to meet the goals the President has 
placed at the top of the country's national security 
agenda. 
 
¶7.  Minimize considered. 
 
 
CLINTON