Becoming a Ambassador or Diplomat?

[Harrier Dude]

Come on, you're missing the single most awesome-est thing about being a diplomat/ambassador: you get to walk around and say "Diplomatic immunity." But you have to say it w/ a cool accent and deep voice. Oh, and sound very foreboding.

Sorry, I have nothing constructive to contribute.

That would be cool, but not enough to deal with the stress it would give me to hold off all of my sarcastic remarks and not choke somebody for a career, however brief that might be.

Diplomacy among pilots isn't even my thing. Why would I be any better at diplomacy between nations?

 

[wink]

I talked to a bunch of FSOs at an embassy about this. What an odd system. Basically, you can work your ass off as a State Department guy for twenty years or so and then, "Congratulations! You're the new Ambassador to Nigeria (or somewhere else that really sucks)!" while some jackass who has never worked a day in his life as a diplomat gets to be the Ambassador to Germany (or somewhere else really cool).

That would be like having a CO of your squadron just show up out of thin air from civvy street and you have to work for him as a DH.

Like I said, weird.

Well, not exactly. The political appointees do go to the cushy ambassadorships like Germany and the UK. That is because those posting do not need the fine touch or detailed experience in foreign policy to keep our relations on track or mind our nations interests in those countries. It is all on auto pilot. Unfortunately for the career diplomats, they get the crappy ambassadorships just because they have the background to deal with the thugs, thieves, malcontents, and nut cases that are found in the back waters of this planet. As a tax payer, it sounds like a pretty good use of manpower. The talent is going where it is needed.

For fun, consider the CINCs from CINCUSNAVEUR (based in London two blocks from the US embassy until a few years ago) and who has been appointed the Ambassador to the UK.

Another fun fact is that FSOs must resign their commissions when taking a post in Taiwan. Since we officially recognize the Chicoms they will not tolerate us having diplomats in Taiwan. When their tour is over, the FSO is recommissioned without a break in service.

 

[Flash]

I've heard good things about being an attache' and flying as part of your job.

The number of C-12's has been cut back and there are not that many left, and those that are left are usually in BFE. Personally, I would take the high life somewhere nice, and not fly, instead of living in a sh!thole and flying the C-12 around. But that is just me.......

 

[HeyJoe]

For fun, consider the CINCs from CINCUSNAVEUR (based in London two blocks from the US embassy until a few years ago) and who has been appointed the Ambassador to the UK.

Just an update, Rumsfeld did away with term "CinC" except for the President and used the Title X terminology of "Combatant Commander" (COCOM) instead for the Unified Joint Commands. The Navy practice of using CinC for their components under the Combatant Commanders then went by the wayside as well (no more CINCLANTFLT, CINCPACFLT or CINCUSNAVEUR....). And in it's day CINCUSNAVEUR wasn't even two blocks away from the embassy, it faced Grosvenor Square (with Eagle Squadron memorial) across the corner from US Embassy.

 

[HH-60H]

For fun, consider the CINCs from CINCUSNAVEUR (based in London two blocks from the US embassy until a few years ago) and who has been appointed the Ambassador to the UK.

Not that it adds much to this discussion, but ADM Crowe (pronounced Crau, unlike the actor Crowe) was one such individual who had a similar career path. Former CInCPAC (it was CINC back then, I think) promoted to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs turned Ambassador to the Court of St James's.

 

[Nose]

Same with Joe Prueher.

He belongs to our club (or better put, I belong to his club!)

Awesome dude.

 

[phrogdriver]

Concur with the DSS recommendation. If I hadn't gotten the billet that I have now, I would have pursued that option further. All the see the world bit of the diplomatic service, with a bit of kicking ass thrown in. I recommend the book, "Relentless Pursuit," by Samuel Katz.

 

[AJB37]

Come on, you're missing the single most awesome-est thing about being a diplomat/ambassador: you get to walk around and say "Diplomatic immunity." But you have to say it w/ a cool accent and deep voice. Oh, and sound very foreboding.

Sorry, I have nothing constructive to contribute.

Instead on saying diplomatic immunity, you could always just sing it...

 

[HAL Pilot]

Another fun fact is that FSOs must resign their commissions when taking a post in Taiwan. Since we officially recognize the Chicoms they will not tolerate us having diplomats in Taiwan. When their tour is over, the FSO is recommissioned without a break in service.

Taiwan...my Mom hates the place.

1974 when my Dad was stationed in Okinawa, space-A hops to Taiwan were easy. So Mom, Dad, 14 year old brother and 12 year old I go off to Taiwan for a vacation. Walking down the street a couple of hookers walk up to us and say "You boys want a good time?" Mom immediately says "Those are my sons!" Without missing a beat, the hooker replies "So? You want to watch?"

We hadn't even been there for half a day and Mom started telling Dad we needed to take the next flight out. About a year later when the base teen club decided to have a Taiwan trip, Mom almost refused to let my brother and I go but my Dad talked her into it. Mom was afraid we'd go see a hooker. She shouldn't have given in...........

 

[wink]

Just an update, Rumsfeld did away with term "CinC" except for the President and used the Title X terminology of "Combatant Commander" (COCOM) instead for the Unified Joint Commands. The Navy practice of using CinC for their components under the Combatant Commanders then went by the wayside as well (no more CINCLANTFLT, CINCPACFLT or CINCUSNAVEUR....). And in it's day CINCUSNAVEUR wasn't even two blocks away from the embassy, it faced Grosvenor Square (with Eagle Squadron memorial) across the corner from US Embassy.

Yup. But all the "Commanders" I was referring to were CINCs. The CICUSNAVEUR gig wasn't bad. As you say, the building was in a great location just off Oxford St. It was Eisenhower's old HQ that had been rented to the US during WW II for a $1.00 a year from some Duke in the royal family. We held up our end of the contract, staying at that prime location for well over 40 years for $1.00 a year. There were no outside military references, and we all worn civies. The US flag was atop the building and when the Admiral wasn't in his villa in Naples (his NATO hat was, still is I guess, Commander Allied Forces Southern Europe and was headquartered in Naples) his flag would fly. But that was it. Oops, thread jack, sorry.

 

[HeyJoe]

Yup. But all the "Commanders" I was referring to were CINCs.

Concur, the "abolishment" of term CINCs for service assignments was in 2002.

The CICUSNAVEUR gig wasn't bad.

No kidding. I ended up staying at hotel Millenium on Grosvernor Square for a conference and bumped into folks from CINCUSNAVEUR at nearby Pub (didn't realize it was in such a swank neighborhood). The whole Mayfair neighbor was super deluxe and I remember thinking why hadn't I figured out a way to work an assignment there into my career. Every time I've been been to UK and had to be in London (even for Farnborough Airshow), I've tried to stay at Millenium or the Marriott that is on far corner. The late night piano bar at Millenium is a special place as are the pubs withing walking distance (hard to find a bad pub in London though).