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Bruxism posted:I'll actually be living there from June - September this year while training for my next post. If any of you kids are going to be around, I'd be happy to grab a beer with yea. Awesome - beer must be consumed!! Also I just found out by coincidence that bruxism is actually a medical condition and not just an SA screen name. Took all of my self control (which admittedly isn't very much) not to yell out, "Oh, I have bruxism! I thought it was just a DS agent!"
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Apr 15, 2013 18:08
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Bruxism posted:I'm a little late on the Falls Church Oakwood conversation, but thought I'd add some comments for the prospective DS people. Awesome, I'm always down to chill with FS folk on rotation through the DC area, you all always have the best stories. Doesn't hurt that I'm also a prospective DS person.  The June-Sept. timeframe also lines up with the (last, best info I have) dates for the next DS application window to open too. Can't wait for that.
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Apr 15, 2013 18:53
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Bruxism posted:I'm a little late on the Falls Church Oakwood conversation, but thought I'd add some comments for the prospective DS people. There is one shuttle that goes to DSTC from Falls Church. See you all in June, I'll be tagging along for training as well. It's gonna be an awesome summer.
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Apr 15, 2013 21:51
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Great! Sounds like a lot of people will be around this June. Once I get out there I'll organize a happy hour somewhere centrally located. Looking forward to meeting some of you for the first time and catching up with others.
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Apr 16, 2013 03:51
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If I manage to get hired by DS I'll just be sticking with my current place since I'm local. Should still be easy enough to get to Dunn Loring from here. And I'm walking distance to FSI, though I guess I'd only be there a week. I am also known to enjoy consumption of beers.
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Apr 16, 2013 04:42
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Kase Im Licht posted:And I'm walking distance to FSI, though I guess I'd only be there a week. You spend your first three weeks at FSI and then have a long enough break before coming back to DC that you have time to change housing arrangements.
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Apr 16, 2013 05:03
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I asked earler in the thread, but i guess it got lost in the shuffle. I was wondering if anyone coud offer any advice about other opportunities at the State Department, such as the Civil Service, or other Jobs like Foreign Affairs Officers? I'll be attending grad school next spring for Conflict Resolution, and think the State Dept would be a good fit for me, I'd just like a little more info, first hand if possible, about what other opportunities are offered. Thanks.
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Apr 16, 2013 23:30
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Beria posted:I asked earler in the thread, but i guess it got lost in the shuffle. I was wondering if anyone coud offer any advice about other opportunities at the State Department, such as the Civil Service, or other Jobs like Foreign Affairs Officers? I'll be attending grad school next spring for Conflict Resolution, and think the State Dept would be a good fit for me, I'd just like a little more info, first hand if possible, about what other opportunities are offered. Strongly consider attempting to get into the Presidential Management Fellowship program: http://www.pmf.gov/ It's basically a fast-track into civil service. I think PMF recipients also get a preferential hiring process if they later apply for Foreign Service positions. I managed to squeeze into the program during my second year of grad school and had been able to secure a job offer from DoS's I&R shop as an analyst. If I hadn't gotten into DS I would have definitely gone that route instead.
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Apr 16, 2013 23:59
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Good call. PMF is even more competitive these days. 15 people from my grad school class applied, 1 made it to finalist. Some of the folks who got turned down were extremely capable and made it into very prestigious and well paid private sector jobs.
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Apr 17, 2013 00:03
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I am a total newbie here and an IMS hopeful. I submitted my app last week and have been deemed "Eligible" to proceed. So here's my question to all the Generalists and Specialists on this here Interwebs; Is there much truth to this "us versus them" mentality I keep seeing pop up every so often? I have read two articles, one from 2003, but can not seem to find again, and "Pride and Prejudice", Pg 55, found here http://www.afsa.org/fsj/1209/files/assets/downloads/publication.pdf. It would be great to hear what folks that are actually in the game feel. Many thanks. mypseudonym fucked around with this message at 01:24 on Apr 18, 2013 |
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Apr 18, 2013 01:19
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mypseudonym posted:I am a total newbie here and an IMS hopeful. I submitted my app last week and have been deemed "Eligible" to proceed. So here's my question to all the Generalists and Specialists on this here Interwebs; Is there much truth to this "us versus them" mentality I keep seeing pop up every so often? I have read two articles, one from 2003, but can not seem to find again, and "Pride and Prejudice", Pg 55, found here http://www.afsa.org/fsj/1209/files/assets/downloads/publication.pdf. Is this another join for State? Also, your name is too close to AKA who's an IMS on his third tour. As to your question, yes it's there, but, it's not game changing. Some of our best friends from our tours have been generalists. However, for IMS specialists, you will generally be considered A/T for the better part of your first 10 years at State(admin and technical staff) which can impact how many cars you can get duty free, your duty free allowance (ie how much you can bring into the country in your HHE, POV, alcohol etc. depending on country). Most posts, senior IMS staff are actually accredited as "attache" and will be on the diplist and have everything same as most generalists.
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Apr 18, 2013 02:02
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I find all specialists insufferable. All generalists, too.
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Apr 18, 2013 03:51
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I met an 3rd tour FSO at a bar today in DC, he offered me two pieces of advice. #1 Ignore everything you learn at FSI and instead focus on being liked/respected by others, besides commitments to those above you treat those at your level and below the way you'd want to be treated. Everything else will flow from simply not being a dick. #2 Embrace becoming a professional international alcoholic. His advice has reinforced my decision to apply to the foreign service.
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Apr 18, 2013 04:34
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problematique posted:I met an 3rd tour FSO at a bar today in DC, he offered me two pieces of advice. #1 is a really good point. More often than not it's your peers and subordinates who will help you over the course of your career. While sucking up to an Ambo may seem like a good idea, they normally only have 2-3 more tours in the Dept. On the other hand, the DCM, Pol counselor, Econ counselor, consul, etc. may well be the Ambo or DCM at a post you want to go to in a tour or three. Don't be a dick, and don't burn a bridge unless you really have to. I think we've gone over point #2 enough in this thread 
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Apr 18, 2013 04:45
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problematique posted:I met an 3rd tour FSO at a bar today in DC, he offered me two pieces of advice. It's all fantastic advice. I've been surprised a number of times to meet a fellow FSO and, after introductions, to have them say, "Oh, I read all your stuff from when you were in X country! Great job!" So even people you've never met might know something about you.
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Apr 18, 2013 08:21
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TCD posted:Is this another join for State? My best friend at post is a DS specialist (ARSO-I).The other night we had a "game night" (e.g. drinking + cards against humanity) at our house, with a couple specialists there. I typically eat lunch once a week with the FM specialist (my wife's boss). So yeah, be cool, talk to cool people, don't worry about specialist/generalist. Business of Ferrets posted:It's all fantastic advice. I've been surprised a number of times to meet a fellow FSO and, after introductions, to have them say, "Oh, I read all your stuff from when you were in X country! Great job!" So even people you've never met might know something about you. Especially if you have a particular topic in your portfolio that you really like writing about. For me, it's aviation. It's a fairly small part of my portfolio on a day-to-day basis, but makes up a disproportionate number of my cables, mainly because I have gotten feedback from random people that follow what I write on the topic, and it's just easy for me to write on. Likewise, I read just about every aviation related cable that I can find.
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Apr 18, 2013 09:57
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problematique posted:#1 Ignore everything you learn at FSI and instead focus on being liked/respected by others, besides commitments to those above you treat those at your level and below the way you'd want to be treated. Everything else will flow from simply not being a dick. Yep, pretty much. FSI is functionally useless.
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Apr 18, 2013 18:03
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the_chavi posted:Yep, pretty much. FSI is functionally useless. We have a really good Christmas party. 
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Apr 18, 2013 18:40
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psydude posted:We have a really good Christmas party. So did we, and we were in Libya. Except for the guy who enjoyed jumping over the bonfire the more tequila he drank. Didn't fall in till the second time...
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Apr 18, 2013 21:03
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A few questions pertaining to admissions and mental health. -What conditions are/can be assumed to be disqualifying factors for admissions into Foreign Service? As a person who took medication for depression once (but no longer), how would this count against me during any medical examination? -The Peace Corp thread seems pretty adamant about not mentioning any history of depression or medication for mental health, including minor issues with depression. Were someone to join the Peace Corp and take this advice, would failing to mention this disqualify someone from a security clearance? Ohio State BOOniversity fucked around with this message at 21:24 on Apr 18, 2013 |
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Apr 18, 2013 21:15
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the_chavi posted:So did we, and we were in Libya. Except for the guy who enjoyed jumping over the bonfire the more tequila he drank. Didn't fall in till the second time... At least he wasn't DoS.
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Apr 18, 2013 21:31
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the_chavi posted:Yep, pretty much. FSI is functionally useless. If there's 1 lesson I've learned out of A-100 so far, it's definitely "Don't be a dick". We've had just about everyone advise us on the importance of good inter-personal skills. That and the paperwork... So much paperwork.
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Apr 18, 2013 22:31
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Angry Boat posted:A few questions pertaining to admissions and mental health. In State there's a pretty big carveout for mental health treatment related to family or grief issues, at least on the security clearance side. I have been on and off anti-depressants for years (including long before I joined State), and the interviewers had no issues. When I had my initial med clearance, the doc just noted that I was on an anti-depressant and moved on - it was unremarked upon by the adjudicators.
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Apr 18, 2013 23:07
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Angry Boat posted:A few questions pertaining to admissions and mental health. General rule on security interviews, don't lie. If you've taken anti-depressants, met with a mental health counselor, etc be up front if asked about it during your security interview. Failing to mention it and the investigator finding out about it would be a bigger issue.
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Apr 19, 2013 01:52
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So allegedly the people who carried out the Boston marathon bombings are ethnic Chechens from Russia. Is this the appropriate time to say I'm relieved that if those stories are true, I didn't issue their visas? I was a little twitchy when initial reports said it was Saudis...
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Apr 19, 2013 13:27
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In all honesty, as a visa officer, the first question I asked myself was, "Do I think this person is a terrorist or a mobster?" Everything else was academic.
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Apr 19, 2013 14:50
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Do you guys have access to intelligence for that sort of thing? Or is tracking criminals/terrorists supposed to be handled by ICE?
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Apr 19, 2013 14:54
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psydude posted:Do you guys have access to intelligence for that sort of thing? Or is tracking criminals/terrorists supposed to be handled by ICE? I just looked into their eyes and read their souls. e: This isn't the place to discuss the visa process, but I will say that things are substantially easier now than ten years ago when I was doing it. Business of Ferrets fucked around with this message at 14:58 on Apr 19, 2013 |
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Apr 19, 2013 14:55
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psydude posted:Do you guys have access to intelligence for that sort of thing? Or is tracking criminals/terrorists supposed to be handled by ICE? There's a question on the standard visa form that asks if they're terrorists. Usually you can just go by those responses.
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Apr 19, 2013 16:54
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the_chavi posted:There's a question on the standard visa form that asks if they're terrorists. Usually you can just go by those responses. Ah yes, much like on the SF-86.
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Apr 19, 2013 17:26
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Beria posted:I asked earler in the thread, but i guess it got lost in the shuffle. I was wondering if anyone coud offer any advice about other opportunities at the State Department, such as the Civil Service, or other Jobs like Foreign Affairs Officers? I'll be attending grad school next spring for Conflict Resolution, and think the State Dept would be a good fit for me, I'd just like a little more info, first hand if possible, about what other opportunities are offered. I'm finishing my PMF and am a Foreign Affairs Officer. Feel free to PM me or ask specific questions. Here is an outline of the basic ways into the civil service; there's some stuff that's pretty easy to find on the State Department website, as well. It seems to me that it's very difficult to break in through other means - I don't think I know any young civil servants who just applied to a USAJobs posting. Hopefully OPM unfucks the PMF program soon, because it seems like it turned into a total crapshoot the last time around. Giodo! fucked around with this message at 19:21 on Apr 19, 2013 |
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Apr 19, 2013 19:15
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I gotta say earthquakes really suck when you live on the 24th floor of a building in China. Had a 6.9 about 70 miles away this morning. Just glad we weren't at the center. Edit to remove photo which turned out to be fake. 1of7 fucked around with this message at 05:50 on Apr 20, 2013 |
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Apr 20, 2013 03:25
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Holy poo poo bro, I just saw those emails. Glad you're okay. Also I know the feeling from our place in AF. I was on the computer when I felt the beginnings of an earthquake and the panick and yelling to get out of the building and unlock all the doors. I experienced many an earthquake in Alaska and California over 25 years. That poo poo in AF was scary. TCD fucked around with this message at 03:36 on Apr 20, 2013 |
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Apr 20, 2013 03:29
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The terrifying thing about big earthquakes in developing countries is how sketchy the rescue and emergency services are. Not to mention low construction safety standards and a predilection for building with bricks. I worry far less about big quakes here in Japan than I did smaller quakes in other places I've been.
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Apr 20, 2013 05:08
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Glad you're OK! Earthquake are a little fun, just the aftermath is horrible. Especially in places without good response times/first responders. When the D.C. quake hit, everyone ran to their windows to survey the damage To comment on FSI - the stuff they teach you isn't entirely useless; but keep it at the back of your head. Every post is different and you may even find what you learned at FSI is flat out wrong. Just understand it has been their perspective and their expereince. A good example for IMS is the GAL, FSI likes to preach that as a hard line (as a matter of policy) to follow but actually at post it's more a "best practice" and there is some flexibilities in order to accomodate all of your customers. Be nice to your co-workers, don't be "that guy/that person." It's a hella small world and I can't emphasize or stress that enough. You will not win every argument, so people skills, especially learning when - and how far - to take things is paramount to your success as a FSO. But make sure you can do your job appropiately before you play 'the office politics'. edit: except what FSI teaches you about transporting your goods. THAT you can discount as 100% wrong. Get transit insurance and make sure you oversee everything. Hound their rear end if you have to for paperwork, and work with your GSO. Hopefully your GSO is a nice person. (ProTip: be nice to your GSO)
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Apr 20, 2013 06:30
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Continuous posted:If there's 1 lesson I've learned out of A-100 so far, it's definitely "Don't be a dick". We've had just about everyone advise us on the importance of good inter-personal skills. The first thing FSI should stop doing is telling everyone how elite and special and that they are the best of the best, because far too many JO's come to post with a puffed up sense of importance. Although, it was funny when a JO consular tour guy told the Management Officer to do his voucher for him because he was "too busy" his second week at post. It would be cute if there weren't 40 of them at Post. Thankfully most have learned to disregard all the sunshine FSI blew at them.
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Apr 20, 2013 07:19
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ATI Jesus posted:The first thing FSI should stop doing is telling everyone how elite and special and that they are the best of the best, because far too many JO's come to post with a puffed up sense of importance. Maybe they should try something like: "Congratulations! Since you were hired because you are the best of the best. But, keep in mind that since you are brand new you are the worst of the best of the best."
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Apr 20, 2013 12:09
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Business of Ferrets posted:I worry far less about big quakes here in Japan than I did smaller quakes in other places I've been. Yeah, my wife doesn't want us to ever bid on Japan because she's afraid of earthquakes. I'd take an earthquake in Japan over one in China any day. At least I'm starting to get sort of used to the aftershocks, though we are pretty much constantly on edge waiting for the next one (there's one now.) Everyone is ok and there was no real damage in the city (we are about 70 miles from the epicenter.) The scary apart (aside from the obvious possibilities of destruction and death) is that probably 1/2 of the office was on a CLO trip to volunteer at a panda facility which happens to be right near the epicenter. Luckily, the MO & RSO overslept and delayed everyone's departure. By the time they all got to the pass in the mountains it was blocked by landslides and boulders and they had to turn around and come back. Had they been on schedule, they would at best have been at the park already and then would not be able to make it back due to the landslides. At worst, they might have gotten hit by one of the giant boulders.
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Apr 20, 2013 12:18
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Giodo! posted:Hopefully OPM unfucks the PMF program soon, because it seems like it turned into a total crapshoot the last time around. That makes me feel better - my husband made it all the way to the final round and didn't make the last cut. We can't figure out what he possibly could do more to fit the PMF bill. 
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Apr 20, 2013 12:55
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1of7 posted:Yeah, my wife doesn't want us to ever bid on Japan because she's afraid of earthquakes. I'd take an earthquake in Japan over one in China any day. Geez, glad you're okay, and glad the RSO overslept! I'm friends with one of the A/RSOs out there (well really his wife) and they were definitely doing the "oh my God we could have been on that trip" second-guessing game while they were standing outside their apartment building, waiting for the all clear. Stay safe, friend.
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Apr 20, 2013 12:57
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