|
Bloodnose posted:When I was a CF (then called LNA), we were explicitly not eligible for Mustang Really? You mean you can work up to 5 years as a CF and they won't credit that service for Mustang eligibility? Wow.
|
#
?
May 11, 2017 04:18
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 22, 2024 16:16 |
|
|
Yep. Brutal. But they were very clear at every possible checkpoint with big flashing lights THIS IS NOT A BACK DOOR INTO THE FOREIGN SERVICE
|
|
#
?
May 11, 2017 07:10
|
|
|
To be fair the Mustang program now confers very little benefit, after the change they made last year.
|
|
#
?
May 13, 2017 14:36
|
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:Really? You mean you can work up to 5 years as a CF and they won't credit that service for Mustang eligibility? Wow. Unlike a Civil Service job, CF isn't a permanent position federal position. For HR purposes, it's a weird variation on a contract position, term limited. You have a specific end date (60 months). Trixiehaha fucked around with this message at 16:30 on May 13, 2017 |
|
#
?
May 13, 2017 16:27
|
|
|
Yea, CF seems like USAID's OFDA, but with much better benefits. It looks like your CF service is credible towards FERS, and you get matching TSP and other Fed benefits. The only difference with regular fed job seems to be that it is term limited and there is no career status. At the very least they should give 1 year of NCE like they do for Peace Corps volunteers. No reason to impede those who have served their country abroad from continuing a federal career.
grenada fucked around with this message at 17:37 on May 13, 2017 |
|
#
?
May 13, 2017 17:31
|
|
|
problematique posted:To be fair the Mustang program now confers very little benefit, after the change they made last year. Also true
|
|
#
?
May 14, 2017 23:34
|
|
|
So today's my first day of work since December 16. Anything changed, y'all?
|
|
#
?
May 15, 2017 12:20
|
|
|
the_chavi posted:So today's my first day of work since December 16. Anything changed, y'all? My EER is done. I think. Maybe?
|
|
#
?
May 15, 2017 14:49
|
|
|
the_chavi posted:So today's my first day of work since December 16. Anything changed, y'all? Fever dreams becoming realities, but pretty much business as usual.
|
|
#
?
May 15, 2017 15:11
|
|
|
Bruxism posted:Fever dreams becoming realities, but pretty much business as usual. You mean malaria med dreams right?
|
|
#
?
May 15, 2017 19:53
|
|
|
I just got my travel orders and flight tickets. As if this gig couldn't get any more "real."
|
|
#
?
May 18, 2017 01:32
|
|
|
Didn't pass the OA. Cleared GE and SI (I felt like I kicked their rear end in fact). But gently caress I messed up with CM. All in capital letters, all in bullet point. Dismissed a key calculation as a red herring. Feeling really poo poo here, but probs gonna take the FSOT again in October.
|
|
#
?
May 18, 2017 22:44
|
|
|
What's this I'm hearing about only two A-100s a year now?
|
|
#
?
May 29, 2017 14:18
|
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:What's this I'm hearing about only two A-100s a year now? No idea on these specifics - but you have seen the proposed budget yes? https://diplopundit.net/2017/05/25/all-in-tillerson-on-trumps-fy2018-statedeptusaid-budget/
|
|
#
?
May 29, 2017 21:18
|
|
|
"This budget is responsive to the realities of the world in the 21st century, and ensures that the State Department and USAID can quickly adapt to an ever-changing international environment." -Rex Tillerson
|
|
#
?
May 30, 2017 06:42
|
|
|
-and no one else because they haven't even appointed a Deputy Secretary yet
|
|
#
?
May 30, 2017 13:07
|
|
|
Bloodnose posted:-and no one else because they haven't even appointed a Deputy Secretary yet Not true, Deputy Sullivan was confirmed last week.
|
|
#
?
May 31, 2017 01:24
|
|
|
My mistake. Did they pad out the undersecretaries too?
|
|
#
?
Jun 1, 2017 16:08
|
|
|
Bloodnose posted:My mistake. Did they pad out the undersecretaries too? Reportedly someone's been nominated (if not formally, then at least announced in the press) for M. Otherwise lol no.
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2017 21:33
|
|
|
the_chavi posted:Not true, Deputy Sullivan was confirmed last week. I attended his swearing-in ceremony last week. Seems like he is a lot more willing to listen to the bureau he leads than his boss.
|
|
#
?
Jun 13, 2017 02:47
|
|
|
Quick question. I am heading for a consumables post. Am I able to ship consumables as HHE? My HHE is way under the limit, so I figured I might as well not waste the extra weight.
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2017 22:39
|
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:Quick question. I am heading for a consumables post. Am I able to ship consumables as HHE? My HHE is way under the limit, so I figured I might as well not waste the extra weight. That's what I did. There is no big difference in the end, it's just extra weight you use to ship stuff anytime you want, with the added restriction the items must something that can be consumed. I never ended up needing to use my consumable allowance. Ended up "donating" it halfway through the tour so we could save some money importing American wine for the Embassy July 4th event.
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2017 23:02
|
|
|
problematique posted:Ended up "donating" it halfway through the tour so we could save some money importing American wine for the Embassy July 4th event. You sound like a good person to be at post with 
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2017 23:05
|
|
|
Tyro posted:You sound like a good person to be at post with I "donated" mine too. If you have a good group of people at small, hard posts, they can be a lot of fun. TCD fucked around with this message at 00:45 on Jun 15, 2017 |
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 00:25
|
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:Quick question. I am heading for a consumables post. Am I able to ship consumables as HHE? My HHE is way under the limit, so I figured I might as well not waste the extra weight. In almost every case, there's no material difference, like others have said. However, there is at least one post where consumables are authorized as air freight half the year due to extreme weather conditions.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 05:20
|
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:Quick question. I am heading for a consumables post. Am I able to ship consumables as HHE? My HHE is way under the limit, so I figured I might as well not waste the extra weight. yes, and then you can follow up with an actual consumables shipment later on. I recommend using some of your HHE weight to ship a full dual burner all grain beer brewing kit and 8 months worth of grains, then using the consumables shipment for fresh grains midway through.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 14:44
|
|
|
Hey folks, So I ended up getting (and accepting) an offer to the August 7 Consular Fellows class as a non-language-designated Consular Fellow. I have sent in my resume and pay stubs but I am still waiting for a salary offer and appointment letter. Yet I now see that generalist A100s, thought to be canceled, are being resumed, and I am getting worried. It seemed to me that a major part of the incentive for the expansion of the CF program to people like me was to take the place of ELOs that wouldn't be coming on with a halt in hiring. So if there is no halt... I have already given notice at my work and taken steps to sell my house - am I being paranoid to think my position in the Consular Fellows class is now in serious danger?
|
|
#
?
Jun 30, 2017 17:39
|
|
|
Nah, the really important function of the consular fellows is to do ELO visa bitch work without the promise of a future career. The problem with the Foreign Service is that my consular section in Guangzhou had like 30 vice consuls doing visa interviews and then only 8 consuls managing them and then only 3 section heads, but those 30 vice consuls will each be needing one of those 8 consul jobs in 2 to 4 years. Consular fellows are important because they are vice consuls who never need to grow into consuls, so the pyramid won't collapse as visa demand keeps growing, requiring more and more vice consuls while higher level management jobs don't keep pace.
|
|
#
?
Jun 30, 2017 18:22
|
|
|
So, what's this I hear about July and September A-100s? Are these regular A-100s for generalists? Are they special A-100s for Consular Fellows? Are they A-100s for the Pickering and Rangel fellows only? That's great news either way.
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2017 07:50
|
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:So, what's this I hear about July and September A-100s? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Not sure anyone knows yet, but I have a friend starting as an EL CDO next week, so maybe she'll have some words of wisdom? Also, hey, how about that recommendation to move CA to DHS? 
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2017 18:59
|
|
|
the_chavi posted:Also, hey, how about that recommendation to move CA to DHS? First I've heard of this. I really hope it's not true
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2017 20:17
|
|
|
Slaan posted:First I've heard of this. I really hope it's not true Almost happened after 9/11, but legacy-INS-DHS was in such bad shape State held on to it. So basically nothing has changed.
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2017 20:38
|
|
|
Slaan posted:First I've heard of this. I really hope it's not true https://diplopundit.net/2017/06/29/trump-white-house-reportedly-considering-folding-ca-and-prm-to-homeland-security/
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2017 01:00
|
|
|
Also the incoming A/S for Consular Affairs (assuming he gets through) has testified before Congress in favor of moving CA to DHS.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2017 01:16
|
|
|
Man, that guy's testimony (from his lofty two years of work before he resigned) is so internally inconsistent it hurts to read it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2017 02:46
|
|
|
My CG at post is really worried about that possible switch. Hopefully the deputies at CA will drag their feet with this and launch "study" after "study" before actually doing this.
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2017 03:09
|
|
|
Is it true what this article mentuins about the next class of FSOs being cancelled: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/29/how-rex-tillerson-destroying-state-department-215319 Is it still worth signing up? Thinking it might be better for me to continue my career in the financial field than join a Tillerson/Trump State at this point.
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2017 17:15
|
|
|
Shageletic posted:Is it true what this article mentuins about the next class of FSOs being cancelled: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/29/how-rex-tillerson-destroying-state-department-215319 OBE. At least two classes have been approved for later this summer. As for your other question, only you can answer that.
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2017 17:23
|
|
|
the_chavi posted:As for your other question, only you can answer that. Yup - it does take a while to complete the process so funding and conditions may be a bit more apparent.
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2017 20:58
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 22, 2024 16:16 |
|
|
zzonkmiles posted:My CG at post is really worried about that possible switch. Hopefully the deputies at CA will drag their feet with this and launch "study" after "study" before actually doing this. It is really concerning, especially when the survey somehow magically discovered support for this move. However, wouldn't this require legislative approval?
|
|
#
?
Jul 8, 2017 22:31
|
|
