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d1rtbag posted:We're currently on the waiting list for a 2-br at Oakwood for the July class. Right now, we are either at Oakwood Arlington or Falls Church with a 1-br for me, my wife, and a 2-year-old. Joy joy joy! We're on the waiting list too, except there are 4 of us (myself, wife, daughter and stepson)!
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May 15, 2013 00:50
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d1rtbag posted:We're currently on the waiting list for a 2-br at Oakwood for the July class. Right now, we are either at Oakwood Arlington or Falls Church with a 1-br for me, my wife, and a 2-year-old. Joy joy joy! Just got word that a good friend of mine here (EFM) just got picked up as a MGT cone for the July A-100.
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May 15, 2013 01:13
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TCD posted:Just got word that a good friend of mine here (EFM) just got picked up as a MGT cone for the July A-100. That would be Adam, based on the info from the 173rd Google group, right? I am still amazed by the variety of backgrounds of FSOs - there really is no 'right' path into the service.
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May 15, 2013 01:25
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d1rtbag posted:That would be Adam, based on the info from the 173rd Google group, right? 
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May 15, 2013 01:38
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There are many at the embassy (mostly those with families, but there are also some hermits) socialize with a varied expat scene. There are 2nd and 3rd generation Lebanese in addition to the NGO and diplomatic folks. I'm working on building a Junior Officer's club that will bring in junior officers from the other missions with those from the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Much of it depends on the location and your personal intent. Talking with friends based in Europe, they don't see anyone outside of work, Americans or otherwise, as the cities are just too inviting to spend time with people associated with the job. I'll be living in Falls Church with my wife and daughter come the end of August, until about this time next year.
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May 15, 2013 11:05
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Ofaloaf posted:While you guys were still applicants, supplicants, aspirants or otherwise not yet officers in the service, did any of you contact your local diplomat-in-residence? Turns out that the nearest DIR, Jim Ellickson-Brown, is only a twenty-minute drive away from here, so even a face-to-face meeting is probably doable. My wife found the DIR to be a great resource, in particular for working on the OA portion. We arrive in DC on Friday (four of us at the Oakwood in Arlington). She starts Monday. The DIR she met with was in Los Angeles at UCLA(?).
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May 16, 2013 05:48
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If anyone is waiting for PNQ results, the current consensus among the people at the Yahoo group who have been retaking the exam every year is that we'll be getting results Monday morning, 5/20. It's not an official statement or anything, just the day that fits the pattern of the last few years.
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May 16, 2013 16:35
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TMFOUR came down to the wire: 18 hours before packout scheduled. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal until the moving people email you saying "hey uh we can't pack you out until you have orders soooooo"
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May 16, 2013 23:50
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Signed up to take the test. Does anyone know the weighting of different things on these final scores they put out that are 5.72 or whatever?
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May 17, 2013 01:21
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Milton, I'm not sure how or whether the components of the test are weighted against one another. The final scores for the written test are basically z scores, they are based on the performance of the entire population which took the test that go-round, which is the reason they gave me for the delay in receiving your scores.
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May 17, 2013 02:30
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I don't know where I got this information but I believe the written test is weighted against the other test takers so that 45% of all takers pass. It isn't clear how they score the Bio portion.
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May 17, 2013 09:40
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Stress level is pretty high. Uhg.
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May 17, 2013 16:33
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Homie S posted:TMFOUR came down to the wire: 18 hours before packout scheduled. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal until the moving people email you saying "hey uh we can't pack you out until you have orders soooooo" I'm right here waiting with you dude. Also I just dodged the poo poo out of a visit.
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May 17, 2013 16:34
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Got my housing assignment today. Looks like we will be kicking it at the Oakwoods Arlington.
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May 18, 2013 01:33
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Cool that's where I'm at.
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May 18, 2013 03:04
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I've been told I can't switch from Falls Church to Arlington, even after switching off of DS orders to HR orders. I probably wouldn't want to anyways after getting settled, but I was still a little bummed. I also completely miscalculated how much stuff I have. I thought I could do it with just UAB. I was waay wrong.
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May 18, 2013 03:31
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SCRwM posted:Got my housing assignment today. Looks like we will be kicking it at the Oakwoods Arlington. Moved in today and made a last minute run to Safeway for essential beverages. Warning that place closes at 10pm sharp.
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May 18, 2013 04:48
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My Dad was striving to be a Foreign Service Officer back in the day. He was scheduled for an oral exam when he went to the library and saw a friend of his (who had just taken the oral exam) hanging out with a woman. My Dad asked the woman if he could borrow a pencil, and her pencil happened to say "Property of the U.S. Government," so he assumed she was the Foreign Service employee who had just done his oral exam, and asked if she would come have coffee with him to talk things over. I legitimately think it might have been a professional networking move, but it led to marriage six months later. My Dad did two years of community development research in India and finished his doctorate instead of joining the Foreign Service. I only posted that because it felt too low-content to just post that I somehow got talked into signing up for the June test. My friend in my doctoral department insists that if she got a good score that I will get a fantastic score, so we will see (I am not nearly so optimistic). I signed up for Public Diplomacy because even though clearly I would have a much better shot at the Consular track, I think I would be an amazing public face/press brah for this country so there we go.
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May 18, 2013 09:21
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Strudelmeyer posted:Moved in today and made a last minute run to Safeway for essential beverages. Warning that place closes at 10pm sharp. We're on the waiting list for a two bedroom (isn't everyone), so hopefully one will open up before we arrive or just soon there after. Luckily my stepson will be in TX visiting his dad until the end of July, so we will have a few weeks where it will be just three of us before he arrives (in case we're in a one bedroom). For those in the Arlington location, do they have a shuttle running to FSI? Also, how kid friendly is it? Looking at it's pictures online, the Arlington location doesn't have a playground like the Falls Church location (but it seems there are some good parks near by..) Once I'm up there in July for those who are staying there we will need to get together for a drink.
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May 18, 2013 12:14
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SCRwM posted:For those in the Arlington location, do they have a shuttle running to FSI? Also, how kid friendly is it? There's a shuttle that runs pretty frequently that picks up right in front of the Oakwood. For your days at Foggy Bottom, there's also a shuttle that goes to Main State. You can bring kids, but they need to be escorted by you to get on the bus.
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May 18, 2013 12:20
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Continuous posted:There's a shuttle that runs pretty frequently that picks up right in front of the Oakwood. For your days at Foggy Bottom, there's also a shuttle that goes to Main State. You can bring kids, but they need to be escorted by you to get on the bus. Awesome, thanks for the info! I'm awaiting my assignment papers to come in so I can get my daughter on the waiting list for FSI Daycare, so it's good to know I can get/escort her on that bus.
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May 18, 2013 12:27
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Got to go feed pandas today & managed not to get mauled. It's too bad I already turned in my EER or I could've added that on there. ;-)
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May 18, 2013 15:49
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Panda hugger.
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May 18, 2013 15:55
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Quarex posted:My Dad was striving to be a Foreign Service Officer back in the day. He was scheduled for an oral exam when he went to the library and saw a friend of his (who had just taken the oral exam) hanging out with a woman. My Dad asked the woman if he could borrow a pencil, and her pencil happened to say "Property of the U.S. Government," so he assumed she was the Foreign Service employee who had just done his oral exam, and asked if she would come have coffee with him to talk things over. I legitimately think it might have been a professional networking move, but it led to marriage six months later. My Dad did two years of community development research in India and finished his doctorate instead of joining the Foreign Service. Awesome story! I'm a big fan of your posts and especially of your advocacy for Wasteland 2. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help/encourage your entrance into the Foreign Service!
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May 20, 2013 01:02
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Who loves food poi-son-ing? We Dooooooo We Dooooooo   Alternatively: I have this ONE EASY Trick that a diplomat discovered that doctor's DON'T want you to know! Lose 8 lbs in TWO DAYS!
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May 20, 2013 01:16
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At A-100, is it suits only, or is a sport-coat with slacks acceptable?
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May 20, 2013 01:52
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d1rtbag posted:At A-100, is it suits only, or is a sport-coat with slacks acceptable? Suits only. It's a population identification measure - the only people in suits at FSI are in A-100, so the rest of us know to avoid the cafeteria at rush times. But seriously. Only suits.
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May 20, 2013 03:31
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the_chavi posted:Suits only. It's a population identification measure - the only people in suits at FSI are in A-100, so the rest of us know to avoid the cafeteria at rush times. Even if the specialist class, it was suits only. Well one dude did the blazer and we were reminded that afternoon that it was suits only.
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May 20, 2013 05:01
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Last week I submitted an application for a Foreign Affairs Officer job. I'm tracking this is a Civil Service position on a different pay scale than FSO jobs. Anyone have any insight? How does this job compare to being an FSO? Is there an overlap in responsibilities, postings, etc?
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May 20, 2013 05:34
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Well, I'm back from an extended forum absence. I have missed a lot it seems. Good luck Diplomaticus. Anyhow, I saw some people had questions about AIP. Feel free to ask. Yemen (and Libya) are now AIP so I have the street cred  . Basically the only realisitic way to do AIP first tour is to be like me... get assigned to Yemen before it was turned into one offically.I really wouldn't recommend doing AIP(LY) as a first tour. I'm doing well but it is so different here than most posts. Yemen is also a 2 year assignment... 2 years is a longtime to live in a bubble without a wife/SO. There have been rumors of not allowing second tours either going forward. Down the road, AIP is a great experience though. You can really develop professionally and get opportunities way above your normal grade. Another option (outside of AIP) is to do a tour in another high threat hardship... like Northern Mexico, Tunisa, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, etc. It isn't AIP but you get danger pay and a similar experience. The funny thing about Tunisa was that it was considered a NICE non-hardship post when I was bidding in July 2012. Then the September 2012 protest occured. Now it is 2 years unaccompnied post. Things in the FS can change quickly.
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May 20, 2013 07:09
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mtreecorner posted:
Obviously don't say anything you're not supposed to, but having spent some time in Yemen recently, I'm curious what it's like for you guys there. That place is fortified as poo poo and they make it nearly impossible to get in. Do they let you guys out much? How difficult is to get things done/have meetings with people due to security concerns?
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May 20, 2013 07:20
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Xandu posted:Obviously don't say anything you're not supposed to, but having spent some time in Yemen recently, I'm curious what it's like for you guys there. That place is fortified as poo poo... We don't get out much. Professionally, it is very hard on officers who need to get out to meet contacts. Unless it is at a specific location (Ex. Another embassy or ministry), it generally doesn't happen. We try to bring people TO us to keep off the streets. Personally, it can be very draining. We really only are in two locations unless you have a very specific need to go somewhere else. As a specialist, I don't really NEED to leave our compound... so I get out even less so. While it is easy to complain about it... it is very much needed. Kidnappings of westerners happen quite often and AQAP is pretty serious about getting to US Diplomats. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/31/us-yemen-us-qaeda-idUSBRE8BU02I20121231 Thank god my next R&R is in June.  We make our own fun though. This post actually has a good amount of Entry-Level Officers (who were assigned before it was AIP). At one point, most sections were being run by ELOs becuase of staffing issues. So, in a weird way, the community here is very good. This may change as we stop letting ELOs come though. I must also say though that some of the most friendly people in the world I have met are Yemeni. It is very sad that small groups of people can hold the country hostage. I'm really pulling for this country to succeed.
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May 20, 2013 07:53
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Miscreant Fromage posted:129th specialist class flag day today. I'm heading to Khartoum! It was actually my first choice. Congrats. Little late on replying to this but welcome to the "neighborhood!" You will have to let us know how Sudan is.
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May 20, 2013 08:43
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Heh, thanks mtree. Packout tomorrow, it's been a stressful weekend.d1rtbag posted:At A-100, is it suits only, or is a sport-coat with slacks acceptable? Suits only through end of A-100; once you start your language/tradecraft/technical training or whatever you end up doing post A-100 it will likely become more casual (polo/slacks). Xandu posted:Obviously don't say anything you're not supposed to, but having spent some time in Yemen recently, I'm curious what it's like for you guys there. That place is fortified as poo poo and they make it nearly impossible to get in. Here, the OIG report from 2010 in Sanaa is reasonably close to still relevant (3 years is really the relevancy limit given personnel changes) and is cleared for public release. I think you'll find some of what you're looking for there, but keep in mind that much of the security stuff is redacted or discussed in the annex that is obviously not publicly available.
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May 20, 2013 08:54
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Quarex posted:
All tracks have the exact same selection process, the only difference is dealing with the registry at the end. I don't know how the registers look these days but during my application, every track was over 100 people, some of them over 200. If you score well at the OA or have bonus points from language or previous service, your chances are good no matter which track. If you score the minimum on the OA, there's a chance you'll languish at the bottom of the register until your candidacy expires after 18 months. The shorter the registers, the less this risk. Because of the common misbelief that its "easier" to get in via the Consular cone, the consular registery was one of the biggest back then. The fact is that your cone is irrelevant until the very end of the process, after you've passed the written, PNQ, oral assessment, med clearance, security clearance, final suitability review and are on the register. I discourage picking a cone based on a calculation that the cone will help/hurt chances of selection. Pick the cone of what you want to do and ride it out. Quarex, you seem to have done this and i'm not directly this advice at you per se.
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May 20, 2013 10:51
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TCD posted:Even if the specialist class, it was suits only. Well one dude did the blazer and we were reminded that afternoon that it was suits only. Crap. So blazer and nice slacks is no go? Guess I need to go get a suit...
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May 20, 2013 13:02
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SCRwM posted:Crap. So blazer and nice slacks is no go? Guess I need to go get a suit...
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May 20, 2013 13:22
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SCRwM posted:Crap. So blazer and nice slacks is no go? Guess I need to go get a suit... You'll definitely need a suit. If not for FSI then for plenty of things in the future.
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May 20, 2013 13:24
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TCD posted:Suits... you need suits. Even as IMSs sometimes you have meetings with contacts, VIPs (Secstate, POTUS, VPOTUS), and you need to be in a suit. Sometimes these events are multiple days and you need to be in a suit for 3-4 days. You don't want to be the dude that only has one suit. Can I be that guy who has two suits? Guess I need to go get another suit...
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May 20, 2013 13:26
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SCRwM posted:Crap. So blazer and nice slacks is no go? Guess I need to go get a suit... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ A friend of mine likes the Nordstrom Rack. He said the one he was going to had the same fitting/tailoring as the regular store. 172nd A-100 started today for my wife, we met many of her classmates at a mixer yesterday and were hosted by the 170th.
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May 20, 2013 13:32
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