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Macunaima posted:
Depends. From what I hear, what matters most is your mitigating circumstances. My past wasn't perfect (no convictions or anything) but I showed strong mitigating circumstances for past behavior which clearly and honestly put my incidences in my past when I was in college (typical freshmen year college shenanigans). If you've sobered up, no longer drink etc. I'd say that looks a lot better than if your friends say you still get hammered every other night, but just take a taxi home. (or worse, drive and just haven't gotten pulled over). Again, I'm talking from personal experience and talking to other FSOs. I'm not DS, so don't take this as the truth. For IMSers, shoot me a PM with your State email addy. I'll let you know my thoughts on bid lists if you want a 2nd opinion. In just a short time, between Vile, myself and a few others we either have or know somebody first hand who's been to/served at a Post. TCD fucked around with this message at 20:31 on May 2, 2011 |
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May 2, 2011 18:07
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I MAY be around in DC Julyish for a meet. Gonna see how the rest of the month plays out and see what happens.
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May 3, 2011 02:22
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Homie S posted:I MAY be around in DC Julyish for a meet. Gonna see how the rest of the month plays out and see what happens. I'll be in town for all of it.
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May 3, 2011 20:39
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I don't have PM, but it's no biggie as I've already turned in my list as they were due this morning. I'll be here till probably September.
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May 3, 2011 23:13
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TCD posted:I'll be in town for all of it. Annnnnnnnnd just like that, I won't be available all summer! Drink a beer for me!
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May 4, 2011 02:07
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Hey, Diplomaticus, congratulations! I've met some of the AID people in Addis and they all love it. If it appears on the bid list this summer, I'm seriously thinking of bidding it high.
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May 4, 2011 16:53
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You can update the OP to list me in Geneva
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May 4, 2011 21:45
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AKA Pseudonym posted:You can update the OP to list me in Geneva You bastard  !Hope it's a good tour!
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May 4, 2011 23:12
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You're getting at least one person from my class with you.
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May 5, 2011 03:45
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pamchenko posted:Hey, Diplomaticus, congratulations! I've met some of the AID people in Addis and they all love it. If it appears on the bid list this summer, I'm seriously thinking of bidding it high. Thanks! Apparently the mission just moved into a new building big enough to house all the interagency people in the same place, so if you ended up there we might actually see each other!
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May 5, 2011 03:47
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Well, A-100 is finally over. Looking forward to not wearing a tie for a while.
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May 6, 2011 23:14
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Just looked in the mirror. I'm never playing beer pong with the ARSO again. Or I get a free punch to his face. Fucker threw an umbrella at my head and ended up with a nice little gash. Oh well, clubbing with some MSGs, USAID and PCVs was fun. edit: spelling TCD fucked around with this message at 02:04 on May 7, 2011 |
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May 7, 2011 00:49
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TCD posted:Just looked in the mirror. My eyes literally went straight to "Fucker threw an umbrella at my head" and then to "beer pong" and I could guess who you were drinking with 
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May 7, 2011 01:51
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Diplomaticus posted:My eyes literally went straight to "Fucker threw an umbrella at my head" and then to "beer pong" and I could guess who you were drinking with Yeah, it was a good night. We're in the process of finalizing white water rafting plans in Uganda.. With the same ARSO and my supervisor. Beer, more beer, class 5 white water rapids, and possible riots with tear gas (or worse) in Entebbe/Kampala. This is the best job. TCD fucked around with this message at 02:12 on May 7, 2011 |
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May 7, 2011 02:09
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TCD posted:Beer, more beer, class 5 white water rapids, and possible riots with tear gas (or worse) in Entebbe/Kampala. Sounds almost identical to my last rafting trip on the Chatuga river. With more banjos though.
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May 7, 2011 02:26
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TCD posted:Yeah, it was a good night. Foreign service owns
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May 7, 2011 03:41
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learn dueling banjos, then play it nonstop on the ride over. and if you can manage it, on the rapids. Until you give up or until the ARSO smashes your banjo, whichever comes first edit: oooo geneva. Sounds grand!
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May 7, 2011 03:46
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I'm severely hearing impaired in that my right ear is useless and my left is only useful with a cochlear implant. Phones are generally impossible for me to use, but I've lived and worked in Japan for five years and have business-level Japanese skills, so I can certainly communicate in person in foreign languages. How likely a candidate would I be for the Foreign Service? Would my hearing essentially disqualify me from the beginning?
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May 8, 2011 00:29
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tarepanda posted:I'm severely hearing impaired in that my right ear is useless and my left is only useful with a cochlear implant. Phones are generally impossible for me to use, but I've lived and worked in Japan for five years and have business-level Japanese skills, so I can certainly communicate in person in foreign languages. As long as you can be stationed anywhere without needing heavy medical support they can't really discriminate against you.
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May 8, 2011 00:52
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I'd need timely/annual parts for upkeep/maintenance, but that's it. I ask because I was heavily courted by the army (several full bird colonels in my family) while I was in college, but everyone lost interest when they found out about my hearing. It seems like not being able to use telephones would be a dealbreaker for the foreign service as well.
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May 8, 2011 00:55
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tarepanda posted:I'd need timely/annual parts for upkeep/maintenance, but that's it. Not being able to use the phone is a big part of being an FSO. Rather or not that impedes the actual hiring, I don't know. Also, requiring parts and stuff could be an issue if any thing has a lithium battery.
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May 8, 2011 01:54
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FWIW, I am pretty hearing impaired and have passed the IMS OA (and hopefully be an IMS).. There is one other hard-of-hearing FSO I know of (he might be Senior Foreign service by now) and a deaf girl in DSS.. it's do-able, just keep your head high. The BEX guys told me not to worry about it as long as you're open-minded to figuring out alternative solutions. if you know sign language, i'm sure there can be accommodations (like video relay or something) Amusingly, most of us (but the FSO guy - i haven't met him in person yet, but I do know he's got an article in Foreign Policy magazine) speak business Japanese. Funny that we'd all have that in common... Just keep in mind the embassy's a rather populated spot, the language is non-critical and all so you don't get any real points/'leg up' for speaking/knowing it. If you have worked in an actual environment in Japan (and not a deaf school or some such), I know it is a pretty rough environment so it should be something you can manage. I would say go for it and see how far it takes you. The exam, orals and qep are hard enough, and if you really want to try it, what else would you have to lose. (edit: there are also a ton of deaf people in the civil service, if you are just looking to get into State. I don't know of any in foreign forest service, but one of the decision-making people there is deaf, and there's two in USAID that I know of, but there are probably more. You have plenty of options!) edit2, sorry for long post: i dont know about the technical specifics of cochlear implants aside from "you're limited from doing a few things (like swimming)". that may affect your medical clearance or suitability if you have to order specialized parts, but I would say just go for it anyway, since there's no way to know what they say until you're at that point (it's been quoted, "It Depends"). I think Diplomaticus said it earlier in the thread, but the process, while a goal for most applicants, should be looked as a "back up" opportunity due to the timeline and no-guarantees of it. If you make it through, congratulations! & you'd have to make a choice. If not, then you didn't really lose anything aside from a few hours and walked away a little more knowledgeable about the process and probably met some cool people. Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 03:43 on May 8, 2011 |
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May 8, 2011 03:24
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Foreign Service seemed interesting because I thought it might be a chance to continue working in Japan and refining my language skills, but it's sounding less and less like that would actually happen. I'm surprised there are (so many?) deaf people out there, though! Is it possible to go through the hiring process while still working in Japan, or would I have to move back to America?
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May 8, 2011 03:32
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I don't see why that's not possible. For the OA you likely would have to fly Stateside for it, if you get that far. (It's also on your own dime, but if you got that far then you already did better than most of your peers). If you are looking to continue working in Japan, for an indefinite amount of time, check out NPO's, too. (Not just the deaf ones like JASS, but some of the broader ones. The Social Reconstruction Committees up north could be a good place to start?) Not to deter you, It can be somewhat similar to what you're thinking of and can give you some valuable experience and multicultural team-working, if you decide to apply. Plus experiences like that, give you the leg up on your questionnaires.
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May 8, 2011 03:56
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tarepanda posted:I'm severely hearing impaired in that my right ear is useless and my left is only useful with a cochlear implant. Phones are generally impossible for me to use, but I've lived and worked in Japan for five years and have business-level Japanese skills, so I can certainly communicate in person in foreign languages. There is someone in my class in a similar condition. Also we had a blind person in our class. You might be unable to go to certain countries if they are say, extra wet/rainy and that would destroy your hearing aids (not sure if that applies to you). But that has nothing to do with you getting in.
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May 8, 2011 04:47
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There will also be accessibility/accommodation computers there, that are specially set up to deal with certain disabilities, and they are reserved for you while at A-100. I have no idea how it works after A-100 though. Point is, it is certainly doable.
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May 8, 2011 04:49
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Here we go again, round four. Written exam June 7, consular cone.
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May 9, 2011 18:34
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Guess I'd better start trying to learn Mandarin & how to eat spicy food. Going to Chengdu.
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May 10, 2011 22:58
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Grats! That was one of your highs, right?
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May 10, 2011 23:06
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Yes. All of our IMS group got one of their highs.
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May 11, 2011 01:39
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Congrats 1of7! How does the list look for other posts? I am guessing Switzerland wasn't available :P Any advice on the phone in language test? I am pretty comfortable with my native language, but I am not sure about the format of the test as information is pretty scarce. 1of7 & TCD, do you know the average score IMS received to get the call for orientation? Thanks
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May 11, 2011 01:53
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Our list was pretty good IMO. All hardship posts, but relatively easy ones IMO. No idea about average score, but there was basically no IMS register at the time so everybody who passed everything got an invite.
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May 11, 2011 12:19
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1of7 posted:Yes. All of our IMS group got one of their highs. One of my best friends from my hire class is leaving there as an OMS. She's quite happy going to AIP out of Chengdu. However, as an IMS, I think that's a decent spot.... especially if all you had was hardship. Just found out the official 4th of July is on my birthday. Who's up for some shots!
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May 11, 2011 20:15
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1of7 posted:Our list was pretty good IMO. All hardship posts, but relatively easy ones IMO. Get to know the class above and below you. In 2 years, those (and the ones you picked from) will be on your list again.
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May 11, 2011 20:20
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TCD posted:One of my best friends from my hire class is leaving there as an OMS. She's quite happy going to AIP out of Chengdu. Thanks for throwing that qualifier on there as the first half has me worried. :P
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May 12, 2011 23:27
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Whew, just passed OMS OA this morning. FSO OA (Consular) is on Monday. Has anyone seen anything about an OMS registry? Is there one? Scored a 5.4 and wondering if I should get my hopes up. German language bonus could be added if I can de-rustify my skills. I was the only one there in the morning for OMS. There was one other chap applying for IMS who also passed. There may have been more later but we were finished and processed by noon. I did see the gaggle of FSO OA applicants, about 15, but we weren't allowed to mingle. Stupid story that will hopefully benefit someone: after the OA I go down to Main State to pickup some gifts for the family back home. I'm cheesy, whatever. I'm using metro and hoofing it. Find out from security the shop is in the basement and I can't get in unless I'm an employee. The lady on the phone said it was open to the public  Also, I have seen more suits in my two days here in DC then in probably a full year in San Diego. Like whoa.
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May 13, 2011 19:58
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Congrats Hooray! I was in the gift shop this afternoon after my swearing in ceremony. I think the public can go if they are escorted (my wife & daughter were with me.)
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May 13, 2011 20:19
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That's awesome 1of7, congrats to you! Yeah, unfortunately I didn't have any contacts inside the department to call. Hoping next time I'll just walk in as a State employee. After some research it seems that OMS typically doesn't have a register and once you get your clearances you're in. However, they also received twice as many OMS apps this last go round than (ever?) the previous advertisement. Will see... HOORAY fucked around with this message at 21:27 on May 13, 2011 |
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May 13, 2011 21:25
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Did they tell you to stop any proceeding on the OA? When I passed my OA, BEX told me not to go any further with any other generalist OA's for the time being in order to prevent confusion. At any rate, if you do go, Good Luck! (and congrats on passing your OMS OA) Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 22:24 on May 13, 2011 |
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May 13, 2011 21:44
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Quick question: Does IMS training occur at FSI? I have heard something about training at another location.
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May 13, 2011 22:36
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