Services

SOSA Awards
AAFSW Youth Merit Scholarships
Other Awards
Spouse Employment
FS Spouse Mentors
Evacuee Support Network
AAFSW Housing Office
Oral History Project

 

Secretary of State’s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA)

The annual SOSA award recognizes the outstanding volunteer activities of U.S. Government employees, spouses, family members over the age of 18, EFM domestic partners, and members of household who are living and working overseas. AAFSW coordinates and participates in the nomination and selection process and host the AAFSW Awards Ceremony at which the SOSAawards are presented in December of each year. Read more about the SOSA awards and view photos and profiles of the winners.

AAFSW Youth Merit Scholarships

AAFSW offers four scholarships to high school and college students who are family members of Foreign Service employees: the AAFSW High School/Gap Year Merit Scholarship, AAFSW College Merit Scholarship, The Judy Felt Memorial Volunteerism Scholarship, and AAFSW Best Essay Award. Read more about these awards and you can apply for them here.

Other Awards

AAFSW sponsors three awards for adult members of the Foreign Service community. All of these awards are presented at the annual AAFSW Awards Ceremony in December of each year.  Read more about all of them here, along with other awards that are available to members of the Foreign Service community.

The Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award (CCE­EFM) was developed by AAFSW’s EFM Employment Committee to recognize and incentivize those who go above and beyond their job descriptions and routine daily activities to promote the cause of employment and career development for Foreign Service family members.

The Lesley Dorman Award recognizes an AAFSW member who has performed outstanding service in all aspects of the organization.

The Eleanor Dodson Tragen Award honors the memory of AAFSW member Eleanor Dodson Tragen and recognizes a member of the Foreign Service Community who has effectively advocated for and enhanced the global rights and benefits provided to the Foreign Service community.

Spouse Employment

AAFSW advocates for Foreign Service spouse/partner employment opportunities. Our EFM Employment section on this website provides links to relevant State Department policies, regulations, and resources along with a collection of articles providing more guidance.

We also maintain a EFM Business Database. Spouses/partners of Foreign Service employees may register their businesses in the database so that others may “shop EFM!”

AAFSW also provides many services to the Foreign Service community. Read more about them here.

Foreign Service Spouse Mentors

AAFSW has a highly successful program of one­on­one spouse mentoring, created primarily for new A­100 spouses and first ­tour spouses. Read more and sign up to be a mentor/mentee here.

Evacuee Support Network

AAFSW offers support to Foreign Service employees and family members evacuated from posts overseas through a dedicated network of volunteers in the Washington, DC area. Read more about the Evacuee Support Network here.

AAFSW Housing Office

AAFSW maintains a Housing Office in the State Department with lists of available housing for incoming personnel in the Washington, DC area. Read more here.

AAFSW’s Classified Ads  include a variety of real estate for sale and for rent. In addition, AAFSW’s members­only Yahoo Group, Livelines is often used by members to advertise their houses and apartments for sale or rent.

Oral History Project

The AAFSW Spouse Oral History Collection, established in 1986, is housed at the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) and available on the ADST website. Over 150 interviews with Foreign Service spouses document their changing role over the history of the U.S. Foreign Service. Read more about the collection here.