Going it Alone
AAFSW's Guide for Unaccompanied Family Members
The nature of the Foreign Service is changing. New political realities will mean a large number of unaccompanied tours for the foreseeable future. A corresponding number of family members will be left to "go it alone" at home.
We will all have to find new ways to provide information, support and actual assistance for family members of employees assigned to unaccompanied posts. For a start, AAFSW would like to call attention to resources available to these families, both at the Department of State and elsewhere.
This document, "Continuum of Support for Employees and Family Members on Unaccompanied Tours" is a summary of services provided by the Department of State for employees and family members undergoing an unaccompanied tour (PDF). Please note: some of the links in the document are only available on the Department Intranet.
The Family Liaison Office of the Department of State offers the following resources from the Unaccompanied Tours section of the State Department web site.
Long Distance Relationships and Separated Tours: When Couples Live Apart. Practical advice on managing long-distance relationships.
An Unaccompanied Tour: Learning to Manage a Temporary Separation
Useful web sites, email addresses, and phone numbers for separated Foreign Service couples.
Support Services: Unaccompanied Tours describes a new package of support services that FLO has arranged with Managed Health Network, a behavioral health care provider, to enhance access to support services for Department Employees and families, including a 24/7 support call center.
FLO - A-Z Site Map Over 150 links to topics from Adoption Guidelines and Allowances to Travel Regulations and the Transition Center at FSI.
Contact the Family Liaison Office. Addresses, fax numbers, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to which you can address specific questions about unaccompanied tours, support services, evacuations, education, employment or naturalization. This page also lists the specific functions of the staff positions. You are encouraged to email FLOaskUT@state.gov for questions concerning unaccompanied tours. The UT Support Officer or the UT Program Assistant will respond to your inquiry. For information on FLO’s UT children’s workbooks and medals and certificates of recognition, please email the address above.
What's it really like to go it alone? AAFSW is collecting personal stories and anecdotes on this page. An article from the Foreign Service Journal, Marriage Across the Miles, is included, as well as Seven Months and Counting, one spouse's advice on enjoying an unaccompanied year in Washington, DC.
Going it Alone--Family Life in the "New" Foreign Service. (6/08) Most Foreign Service employees will service unaccompanied tours during their careers. What kind of support can their families expect? (PDF document.) By Kelly Bembry Midura. Originally published in the Foreign Service Journal. Reprinted by permission of AFSA.
The Family Liaison Office’s page on Separate Maintenance Allowance, a stipend which may be given to spouses while the employee is at an unaccompanied post.
Living Costs Abroad, Quarters Allowances, and Hardship Differentials.The U.S. Department of State publishes quarterly reports on living costs abroad, quarters allowances, hardship differentials, and danger pay allowances.
HomeFrontUS is a Yahoo! group established to support employees and family members of U.S. Government employees serving overseas at unaccompanied posts. All family members (including spouses, partners, siblings, parents, and adult children) of employees posted to unaccompanied Embassies and consulates are invited to join. If you are interested in becoming a part of this group please email: HomefrontUS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or contact the UT Support Officer at the Department of State Family Liaison Office at (202) 647-1076; 1(800) 440-0397.
Livelines, is AAFSW's email list for all employees of U.S. foreign affairs agencies and their family members. Click here for more information about this group.
The Foreign Service Youth Foundation offers activities and services for children of Foreign Service officers in the Washington, DC area and abroad.
Find out more about various Foreign Service and expatriate online communities on this page of our web site.
Please send your suggestions for additions to this section of our site to webmaster@aafsw.org.