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Lol mine is trash this year but it's already through panel. Maybe next year...
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Apr 29, 2022 23:03
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Ummm, not to be too specific, but is there a preferred method to report USAID FSO's for domestic abuse (while they are leave to visit their family briefly every few years, super fun times)? Is USAID even really part of the State Department, I always just assumed it was for under cover CIA agents, but I guess he does something with power plants allegedly   Found https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/foreign-service-life/domestic-violence-abuse/ and some others but this is tricky, 20+ year super senior narcist employee who will deny everything and all that. sadus fucked around with this message at 02:26 on Jun 15, 2022 |
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Jun 15, 2022 02:12
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sadus posted:Ummm, not to be too specific, but is there a preferred method to report USAID FSO's for domestic abuse (while they are leave to visit their family briefly every few years, super fun times)? Is USAID even really part of the State Department, I always just assumed it was for under cover CIA agents, but I guess he does something with power plants allegedly Sounds like someone you know or a personal experience? Are you at post? Tell RSO. Are you in the states? Tell police or USAID OIG. Abuse allegations are taken seriously regardless of seniority.
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Jun 15, 2022 06:50
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Thanks, a friends parent just got done visiting on leave and did some bad things, but already left the states for a new deployment by the time I found out. We will try all of the above
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Jun 15, 2022 14:10
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sadus posted:Thanks, a friends parent just got done visiting on leave and did some bad things, but already left the states for a new deployment by the time I found out. We will try all of the above Without knowing too many details, if a crime has been committed it should be reported to the police. If the police can't figure out how to approach this due to him being overseas, they should be connected with Diplomatic Security Service, primary law enforcement officers at embassies overseas. Hope you are able to get the assistance you need.
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Jun 15, 2022 18:17
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Thanks again for the common sense. Be nice to your family folks, and RIP Vile Rat
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Jun 15, 2022 20:35
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Another year, another round of promotion fuckery.
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Sep 17, 2022 07:53
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If you look at the stats, despite being eligible, I'm still 6+ years away from being competitive for my 2. But the longer I'm in, the less I care! I am gonna be annoyed when I reach the point where step increases aren't every year, though.
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Sep 17, 2022 11:06
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Hey Goons. If you've got the means, kick in to the FSN relief fund for our colleagues in Turkey. Something like half of our LGF in Adana are living in their cars, the consulate building hasn't been cleared for reentry, and we can't set up a tent city on the grounds of the consulate for our local staff + families because tent materials aren't readily available.
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Feb 10, 2023 22:13
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the_chavi posted:Hey Goons. If you've got the means, kick in to the FSN relief fund for our colleagues in Turkey. Something like half of our LGF in Adana are living in their cars, the consulate building hasn't been cleared for reentry, and we can't set up a tent city on the grounds of the consulate for our local staff + families because tent materials aren't readily available. Oh wow. Yeah, suddenly those common gripes about the local wi-fi not working or the road in front of your house being filled with potholes don't seem so serious anymore.
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Feb 28, 2023 14:11
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Tyro posted:Wow, this thread has been slow recently. Hope everyone is doing well. What’s third week of April look like? Also, I’m REALLY bad at connecting usernames to content and don’t have much sense of who anyone is and what jobs they do. I’m not proud of being like that, but it’s better to reveal upfront.
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Mar 14, 2023 02:55
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Nutrimentia posted:What’s third week of April look like? I'm getting ready to PCS, but I should be around.  Also same. I've only met a couple of you all in person.
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Mar 14, 2023 03:05
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Tyro posted:I'm getting ready to PCS, but I should be around. Rolling through Rosslyn at some point? Swing by my office and I'll fix you a cup of coffee.
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Mar 14, 2023 03:51
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Bruxism posted:Rolling through Rosslyn at some point? Swing by my office and I'll fix you a cup of coffee. Sounds good, I'll be doing consultations in May!
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Mar 14, 2023 14:05
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Tyro posted:I'm getting ready to PCS, but I should be around. Week of April 17 I'll be crashing and banging.
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Mar 22, 2023 15:29
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Awww I just missed you. I was there earlier this month. Be sure to try the Mexican restaurant. $1 tacos on Thursdays!
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Apr 18, 2023 02:57
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Just getting started on The Diplomat. I hope the first 15 minutes are just her logging in and out of Netflix to get it to see the VPN.
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Apr 21, 2023 23:43
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Nutrimentia posted:Week of April 17 I'll be crashing and banging. Thanks for grabbing lunch with me! Always fun to meet folks from the thread.
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Apr 22, 2023 00:45
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Tyro posted:Thanks for grabbing lunch with me! Always fun to meet folks from the thread. Indeed, thank you for taking time and picking up lunch in advance. I have now met two goons.
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May 15, 2023 03:55
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Hello, My brother is a FSO, been doing it over a decade at this point. We were recently talking and he mentioned that he thought the foreign service was desperate for IMS folks. I’ve been working as a UX (user experience) designer for a little over a decade. I’m not sure how much longer I want to continue my current career, so I’m considering it a little more carefully this time. I’m curious if any of the IMS goons in this thread would be able to comment on the level of expertise needed. Obviously UX design is not IT, I’ve never done an IT job. However, I have a fairly sophisticated understanding of digital stuff due to a decade of working around it, and designing for it. I know how to find things out I don’t know. I have a masters degree (MPS) with the word “telecommunications” in it (okay, it’s from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU which is really an art degree). I have a BA in International Relations because I was interested plus my brother’s influence. If I were interested in going on the ride for the last 20 years of my career would I have a decent chance of getting in as an IMS given my experience? Or should I just apply to be an FSO.
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Aug 2, 2023 12:31
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Awkward Davies posted:I’m curious if any of the IMS goons in this thread would be able to comment on the level of expertise needed. Obviously UX design is not IT, I’ve never done an IT job. However, I have a fairly sophisticated understanding of digital stuff due to a decade of working around it, and designing for it. I know how to find things out I don’t know. I have a masters degree (MPS) with the word “telecommunications” in it (okay, it’s from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU which is really an art degree). I have a BA in International Relations because I was interested plus my brother’s influence. It has to be pretty specific IT education/experience: State Dept https://careers.state.gov/career-pa...pecialist-quiz/ posted:Approved IT degrees include the fields of Information Management, Telecommunications Management, Computer Information Systems, Networking, Data Processing, Computer Sciences, Mathematics or other related computer networking fields.
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Aug 2, 2023 13:28
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Magic City Monday posted:It has to be pretty specific IT education/experience: Hm that does look pretty specific, yeah. Thank you!
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Aug 2, 2023 13:47
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Yeah UX design doesn't really overlap; you'd be better off applying as a generalist, and finding opportunities to exploit your UX background from time to time there.
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Aug 8, 2023 20:51
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Current status, in an airport bar on my way home for R&R from my SIP post. Life is good. Good luck with bidding, everyone. I am dreading it.
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Aug 24, 2023 21:10
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Tyro posted:Current status, in an airport bar on my way home for R&R from my SIP post. NOW list gave a lot of gifts to DS Agents this year. Might take another look and see if you can jump on sometime before the first Summer 2024 panel.
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Aug 25, 2023 09:55
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Bruxism posted:NOW list gave a lot of gifts to DS Agents this year. Might take another look and see if you can jump on sometime before the first Summer 2024 panel. I'll do that, thanks. The spots that were on the NOW last time I looked, the TEDs didn't really line up for me. I'll likely be shooting you another email in the next week or two...
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Aug 25, 2023 10:30
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Tyro posted:I'll do that, thanks. The spots that were on the NOW last time I looked, the TEDs didn't really line up for me. For the first time in a long time, it looks like the bid list is coming out after the promotion list. Hit me up!
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Aug 26, 2023 02:14
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Tyro posted:Current status, in an airport bar on my way home for R&R from my SIP post. Enjoy your leave, friend! I am also dreading bidding, as well as the 1 September email of doom. So I'm just... not looking? There's no way this can end poorly.
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Aug 30, 2023 07:40
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the_chavi posted:Enjoy your leave, friend! I am also dreading bidding, as well as the 1 September email of doom. So I'm just... not looking? There's no way this can end poorly. I've done 3 rounds of mid level bidding so far and always gotten my top choice (bidding on unpopular assignments is a strategy!) so I'm sure it's about time for the system to crush my dreams. While technically I've been eligible for promotion for a few years now, I doubt it is happening for another 4-5 years at least, based on the assignments I've chosen. And I'm content with that. Actually, in about 4 years would be perfect, because that's when my step increases start slowing down.
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Aug 30, 2023 14:15
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Fun story friends - get ready to pour out a juice box for Vilerat. At dinner tonight, my almost 7 year old was telling me about his “team” at school, 9 kids from ages 5-10 who compete with another team of kids (15 of them apparently, same age range) in various playground games like tree climbing, long jump, playing jokes on each other, whatever. He said the leader of his group is the oldest, but he is also fair and listens to the other kids. However, the leader of the other group is the oldest but doesn’t listen to others’ ideas and just tells them what to do. So, obviously, I helped my kid brainstorm ways to peel off the other team’s members and bring them over to his team. Next step is introducing him to using those converts to spy on their original team. I’m moderately concerned about what shenanigans my 2 year old will come up with when he’s old enough to scheme in a group. This is what happens when diplomats breed…
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Nov 27, 2023 22:09
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Just got the email that I passed the QEP for an IMS role; time for more waiting! A quick question for any IMS goons: I’ve been reading some grumbling online (more than usual, anyway) about the IMS role in particular. Is there anything to that, or is it more a case of people whining because they were slighted once/ signed up for a job that they didn’t want to do?
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Dec 7, 2023 22:26
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Carsius posted:Just got the email that I passed the QEP for an IMS role; time for more waiting! Congratulations! I'm not an IMS, though I spent 9 months as Acting IMO at one point, so I can't comment too much on the internal culture. There are definitely some strange characters filling the IMS roles. Great job with lots of benefits, so I say go for it!
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Dec 9, 2023 16:39
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Carsius posted:Just got the email that I passed the QEP for an IMS role; time for more waiting! Congrats! No words of wisdom on the IMS track, but welcome to another step on the road to our weird fellowship!
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Dec 9, 2023 20:05
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Carsius posted:Just got the email that I passed the QEP for an IMS role; time for more waiting! I like it. But like any job, there are plenty of things to grumble about. If you've noticed an uptick in grumbling in the next month or so it might be related to some changes in how the Skill Code works. It wasn't really rolled out in the best way, and the communication hasn't been as clear as it could be. Won't really affect anybody coming in after January though. Sorry to vague post but I'm not completely up to speed on it.
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Dec 9, 2023 21:41
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the_chavi posted:Fun story friends - get ready to pour out a juice box for Vilerat. When his team wins, have him smirk at the other leader and say "The Mittani sends his regards..." (Probably safer than "Shoot blues...")
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Dec 10, 2023 01:35
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Thanks for the advice! I managed to scrape by on the FSSA, so that’s another step forward.
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Jan 12, 2024 18:29
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Carsius posted:Thanks for the advice! Hey congrats, well done!
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Feb 3, 2024 16:26
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So anyone here looking at doing the LEPP thing?
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Feb 7, 2024 07:21
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I've been in for 10 years now (time flies!) and I sent the link to my wife saying she should apply so that she could come in and immediately outrank me. She laughed, as expected, because she has no desire to make a career at DOS.
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Feb 7, 2024 13:10
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Leif. posted:So anyone here looking at doing the LEPP thing? I'm going to throw my hat in the ring. FSO was my dream when I first got out of the peace corps but I climbed the ranks very quickly in my current agency and felt like I got golden handcuffs. My current job is very high profile within my agency (liaison to OMB and appropriations staff for a portfolio of programs) so I'm hoping it translates well for this process.
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Feb 7, 2024 16:38
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