Editors: santosmetra9 x Dyansed
This is a very exciting month for EA as the unit celebrates its 6th Anniversary, the External Affairs unit was established on the 4th of August, 2014, and has been actively running for 6 years.
Within these 6 years, the External Affairs unit members have been performing their duties and responsibilities with professionalism and excellence. The unit has always stayed true to its mission: to maintain and seek alliances with respective agencies while ensuring the interests of the Secret Service.
Through the years, our agency has formed tight relationships and firm bonds with White House (WhiteHouse-RC), FBI NW3C (FBI-Premier), USDF (USDF-HQ), KOH (KOH-Royalty), and Interpol (lil!devil!). Collaborations in events, consistent communication, and mutual respect are only a few of the essential activities to keep our alliances strong.
With these accomplishments in mind, and all the new changes that have been implemented such as the new Lateral Press Releases, or the Bi-Weekly Group Visits, and the new Representative of the month award and much more. The External Affairs unit is more than ready to face a new year of representing the Secret Service while keeping the agency’s best interests in mind.
Interviewing the current iCs of EA:
1. aemphatic (1iC of EA):
How important do you think EA is to the Secret Service?
Viel: External Affairs holds a crucial role for the agency because as a unit we manage the communication outside not just towards our alliances but towards the other agencies and we hold the responsibility to uphold the agency’s reputation, without EA’s existence we can’t have an extended communication in other agencies.
What are the most memorable moments for you as an External Affairs iC?
Viel: The most memorable moments for me as a Director of EA, would be implementing changes for the unit as due to this change we are headed in a new direction and a good path together with the members.
What are your future plans/ideas for EA moving forward?
Viel: My future plans to keep going forward would be extending our communications with our alliances in order to further deepen the relationship on both sides, as well as towards other agencies in order to give them a much more in-depth knowledge about the Secret Service.
Finally, What would you advise EA members, which can motivate them to keep going?
Viel: All I can say is that without the member’s constant communication towards our alliance, our relationship with our alliances won’t further deepen, their work into the EA are not overlooked by the EA iCs instead they are appreciated and would be given recognition through awards.
2. Midgars (2iC of EA)
How important do you think EA is to the Secret Service?
Fady: Extremely important, mostly due to the fact that it is the sole unit that deals with any form of exterior contact. This involves managing and creating relationships with other parts of the Habbo community. This then ties it to the community itself, which some consider to be the essence of Habbo.
What are the most memorable moments for you as an External Affairs iC?
Fady: I would say the most memorable moments for me personally would be when I was a joint 3iC of EA with Rick as Acting Director back in early 2019. This is primarily because of all the amazing relationships I have made during that time and ones which have lasted until now. Additionally, that time period was a very interesting period for the EA team which I surely will remember for the entirety of my time on Habbo.
What are your future plans/ideas for EA moving forward?
Fady: A future plan of mine is to start working on a new system which would involve improvements made to how EA members interact with non-allied agencies. The purpose of this would be to expand our ally possibilities and potentially expand our knowledge on other working agencies. Additionally, I would like to see more communication between our EA team and the EA teams of our allied agencies. Opening up these communication paths would improve not only relations, but also the possibilities which the two agencies possess with each other.
What would you advise EA members, which can motivate them to keep going?
Fady: There may be dark times within the EA unit, however overcoming those times with each other is what makes those moments so memorable. Keep on going regardless of the circumstances and do not be afraid to take on any challenges.
3. iLolax (3iC of EA):
How important do you think EA is to the Secret Service?
Lola: External Affairs handles how the Secret Service looks from the outside. We maintain the reputation among alliances and treaties including agencies not affiliated with us. Those reasons are what makes this unit so important. Dealing with cases related to the outside that involves the Secret Service it’s our speciality and keeping a good image is our priority.
What are the most memorable moments for you as an External Affairs iC?
Lola: External Affairs had their ups and downs many times, but one thing that I will always remember is that feeling when I became an iC. I felt really lost and with no clue about what to do at first, it was very stressful but eventually I had to overcome it. As time passed by, I became more confident about working as an iC with the help of our Founding Father Rick and previous EA Leadership who led me through. Taking the leadership role took a while but I can say I feel more confident about managing a unit especially having people on my side that have helped me learn a lot too, big thanks to Viel, Fady and Rick for everything they’ve taught me.
What are your future plans/ideas for EA moving forward?
Lola: We still do research about agencies for future alliances and treaties even if we’re not looking for them at the moment. Our current group visits are being successful just like our point system implementation. It gives us big joy that our members are visiting often and that we encouraged them with the recent Representative of the month addition. The new systems seem to be serving a big role in the unit and will most likely stay to keep working in the future.
What would you advise EA members, which can motivate them to keep going?
Lola: Never forget the reason why you joined in the first place, no matter if it was just because you were curious or wanted to learn more about the unit, you should never forget the feeling when you applied to be a member of EA. Stick to that reason until you feel like the unit is not for you anymore, we don’t like giving people a hard time. New friends, more events, big fun is guaranteed when you join External Affairs but also seriousness, big cases and delicate information is expected too. External Affairs has that advantage that it’s a 50/50 unit that can give you a lot of things. Being in SS every day can be overwhelming when you want new environments whatever the reason you’re going through, take as advantage that as EA members you could go escape to other agency and socialize with new people.