Arguably one of the best and most unique mechanisms for communication in government. The Dissent Channel is set up to allow Foreign Service members to officially dissent from policy, without fear of reprisal.
From the Foreign Affairs Manual: 2 FAM 072 DISSENT CHANNEL USE a. The value of the Dissent Channel depends not only on its unimpeded availability but also on its appropriate use. It is a serious policy channel reserved only for consideration of responsible dissenting and alternative views on substantive foreign policy issues that cannot be communicated in a full and timely manner through regular operating channels or procedures (e.g., when the inability to resolve concrete differences of opinion on substantive foreign policy issues has prevented such views from being reported—see 2 FAM 111.1-1 Openness in Post Operations and Management). b. Employees and their supervisors should make every effort to use front channel communication to accommodate and/or report differing views on major foreign policy issues, prior to resorting to the Dissent Channel (see also 2 FAM 111.1-1). c. Because the Dissent Channel is not a routine channel and its messages are handled at the highest levels of the Department, authors should ensure not only that their views are well-grounded and well-argued, but that no other channel is available to them. Dissenting or alternative views on non-policy issues (e.g., management, administrative, or personnel issues that are not significantly related to matters of substantive foreign policy) may not be communicated through the Dissent Channel. d. Employees considering Dissent Channel use may wish to contact S/P to discuss their circumstances. S/P will ensure confidentiality of such conversations, and can help employees determine the appropriateness of Dissent Channel use in their particular cases. Employees still retain their right to use the Dissent Channel, consistent with the criteria stipulated above. S/P may reject communications that do not meet those criteria.
From the Foreign Affairs Manual: 2 FAM 072 DISSENT CHANNEL USE a. The value of the Dissent Channel depends not only on its unimpeded availability but also on its appropriate use. It is a serious policy channel reserved only for consideration of responsible dissenting and alternative views on substantive foreign policy issues that cannot be communicated in a full and timely manner through regular operating channels or procedures (e.g., when the inability to resolve concrete differences of opinion on substantive foreign policy issues has prevented such views from being reported—see 2 FAM 111.1-1 Openness in Post Operations and Management). b. Employees and their supervisors should make every effort to use front channel communication to accommodate and/or report differing views on major foreign policy issues, prior to resorting to the Dissent Channel (see also 2 FAM 111.1-1). c. Because the Dissent Channel is not a routine channel and its messages are handled at the highest levels of the Department, authors should ensure not only that their views are well-grounded and well-argued, but that no other channel is available to them. Dissenting or alternative views on non-policy issues (e.g., management, administrative, or personnel issues that are not significantly related to matters of substantive foreign policy) may not be communicated through the Dissent Channel. d. Employees considering Dissent Channel use may wish to contact S/P to discuss their circumstances. S/P will ensure confidentiality of such conversations, and can help employees determine the appropriateness of Dissent Channel use in their particular cases. Employees still retain their right to use the Dissent Channel, consistent with the criteria stipulated above. S/P may reject communications that do not meet those criteria.
Size guide
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | |
| Length (inches) | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Width (inches) | 16 ½ | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 |