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Hello folks! Just another IMS hopeful that is making the leap from career lurker to actual member. Just wanted to say HI and give you all props for all the good work you do here. This thread is by far the best, most informative and downright enjoyable thing I've come across in regards to FS info on the web. I applied for the IMS position a few weeks ago and hope to join you in 8 months (pipe dream) to 2 years (horribly depressing reality)! Thanks and take care!
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Sep 7, 2012 18:58
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I lurked here a long time before registering last week, I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't become active earlier and missed getting to know Sean. I'm at a loss for words.
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Sep 13, 2012 05:23
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100 HOGS AGREE posted:I'm gonna ask a question too. Last year I did really good on the test portion but lost a lot of points on the biographical section. I want to work on playing myself up better but I've never been that great at it. I've taken the test twice now, and raised my Bio score from around 38 the first time to around 60 the second, just by being less modest. Don't stretch the truth but put down anything that seems relevant. I once put down being captain of our rec softball league for example. It may seem trivial with regards to the FS but it answered the question they were asking.
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Sep 14, 2012 00:57
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Well, no luck on the QEP for the IMS position for me. Odd since I went through the whole process back in 2002 and was offered a position I had to turn down. I'll keep trying though! I will take the FSO test in February and see if I have better luck with that QEP.
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Dec 2, 2012 22:49
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Took the FSOT test again this morning, I think it went pretty well. In a month we will see and then hopefully on to my arch-nemesis, the QEP!
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Feb 4, 2013 22:36
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Radio Talmudist posted:Is there a new version of the FSOT? I bought my preparation guide (for the 3rd edition) two years ago, is it already out of date? The test is different every year. The format is the same, however. I'd say your study guide is still relevant to give you the types of questions that are on the test.
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Feb 5, 2013 19:33
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Passed the FSOT, now on to the QEP where I've crashed and burned twice now. Any tips or suggestions?
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Feb 28, 2013 18:38
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Just submitted my PNQs for the third time. Third time's the charm, right? Right? Bueller? Many thanks to those of you that read my narratives and gave me some very, very good feedback.
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Mar 19, 2013 22:20
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Barracuda Bang! posted:Yeah, just got my email. Looks like I didn't get through this time. Thanks again to Business of Ferrets and the_chavi for all the help, though. I think I was a lot better off with your help than without it and even though I didn't make it this year, I still really appreciate it. Same here, no dice on the QEP. I second the thanks to BoF and the_chavi, they made my wimpy stories much, much better. I'll keep trying also, for some reason I like taking the FSOT. I also upgraded my Microsoft cert to something current so I plan on giving the IMS route a go!
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May 20, 2013 20:35
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Mostly a lurker here (mostly because I don't know anything yet) but just got my IMS Oral Assessment date for October! Any advice without treading on the NDA?
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Aug 12, 2014 16:56
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Took the IMS Oral Assessment yesterday and passed with a 5.7! Then got stuck at Reagan Natl for 15 hours. All in all it was a pretty awesome day.
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Oct 15, 2014 17:19
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TCD posted:I was then known as volcano guy for the next few weeks during specialist orientation. That nickname could be taken so many different ways too. Our plane had a broken part, they spent 7 hours fixing it, then we boarded again and something else broke. The captain actually called the plane a lemon so I think we were all OK with not trying our luck on that plane. I did get to experience the serenity of Reagan Natl at 3 am though.
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Oct 15, 2014 17:56
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Kind of reminded me of that zombie movie where they are holed up in the abandoned mall.
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Oct 15, 2014 21:39
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Hungry Hippo posted:Congrats! I'm doing the IMS OA on Monday, hopefully I'll get good news as well. Thanks, and good luck to you on Monday!
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Oct 16, 2014 13:52
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Hungry Hippo posted:So I've successfully passed the IMS OA as well with a 5.8! Now on to the next phase! Aw man, you just had to one up me, eh? Congrats!!!
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Oct 20, 2014 19:35
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I read there will be another specialist class in late March. I'm in the same boat, waiting on security clearances.
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Dec 4, 2014 06:22
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GoodsMarch posted:Offers for March A100 are going out. I finally got one! Sweet! Congratulations!
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Feb 5, 2015 17:48
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As I sit in security clearance purgatory, it's given me time to obsess over things. Are you able to extend one of your directed assignments to let your kids finish out a school year? If I get called up this year I don't think I'd be on the summer transition schedule but really would like my youngest to finish high school at one place. I think I would only have to extend for 5 or 6 months. Now back to wondering if the investigators found anything that makes me look interesting.
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Feb 19, 2015 16:58
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problematique posted:at the end of the day, EL division owns you. Yeah, I kind of thought that was the case. Thought I'd ask just as a "wouldn't it be great if" sort of thing. Thanks for the replies!
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Feb 19, 2015 23:43
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Homie S posted:"So I put my compound bow and arrows in my HHE, I can carry that in the streets with me right?" Too funny. Any restrictions on bow ownership anyone has run into? My youngest shoots a recurve for competitions and the like. I don't think she's looking for a concealed carry permit though.
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Feb 28, 2015 02:07
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Finally got on the IMS register today! Now I'm just sitting here grinning like an idiot. They will let me know my rank on the register tomorrow.
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Mar 4, 2015 20:06
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Just got an invite for the July IMS class!  Now I feel like Red from Shawshank on the bus to Zihuatanejo. I'm so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.
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Apr 6, 2015 22:39
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Anyone have any experience with the Meridian at Ballston Commons for housing? My family will be with me during the summer then moving back to finish out that semester of school. It looks pretty nice with a sweet location, at least to a guy from the midwest.
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Apr 9, 2015 22:03
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the_chavi posted:Man, home ownership sucks. What do you mean, I can't just call GSO and have them fix my leaking roof?! I hear ya. That is one of the nice perks I'm looking forward to, a break from the constant maintenance on a house.
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Apr 15, 2015 18:22
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zzonkmiles posted:I've got suits, but it sucks that I won't be able to use a lot of my ties because they don't match the suits! Wait, ties have to match your suit? Sounds like I've been working from home for too long.
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Apr 23, 2015 15:32
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SCRwM posted:Depending on how long you've been at your current employer they "may" not have to talk to them. When DoS did my clearance, I talked to the investigating agent before they started talking to people. Since I had only been at my current job a month they didn't have to talk to them. Best thing to do is just talk to the investigating agent when you have your face to face interview and see what they say. For my clearance, it got a little dicey. I'm a virtual employee so this may be rare but the local investigator called me and another investigator went to my company's corporate headquarters in another state at roughly the same time. The good folks at corporate gave him the email address of my boss and I was subsequently forwarded an email my boss received from an investigator asking him if he would be so kind as to meet with an investigator about me. My boss took it all extremely well and was very supportive, but it was definitely awkward. In hindsight I could have talked to my boss earlier about the whole process, but I wanted to put it off as long as I could just in case things got bad. I'm sure most reasonable people would be supportive in this situation but you just never know.
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Jun 9, 2015 05:41
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Got the IMS bid list yesterday. Any superstitious rituals on getting your top pick work for anyone?
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Jul 16, 2015 04:42
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Flag day in few hours! I'm also up for lunch at FSI tomorrow (Wed), I'll be one of the poor souls in a suit.
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Jul 28, 2015 19:09
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Had our flag day on Tuesday, I will be moving to Guangzhou, China! One funny thing was when they said the Vienna post, the whole room groaned, then applauded when the name was read. I think the guy that got it actually feels a bit guilty.
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Jul 31, 2015 22:06
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Zoots posted:Congrats! No tears at all. All in all it was pretty uneventful. We did have one guy walk up when another guy's name was read, they were very similar. That got a laugh out of everyone.
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Aug 2, 2015 17:01
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Bloodnose posted:If you already have Chinese, I'll see you soon! If you don't, enjoy FSI for the next 300 years! It'll be soon. I'm IMS, so no silly language training for me. So far I've got hello and thank you under my belt, I'm thinking that will be enough.
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Aug 2, 2015 17:02
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Bruxism posted:Dudes. Starting at FSI today. Will be here until May. So is there a goons only lunch table or something? I'm here until mid December. Most days I'm in the lunchroom with a few other IMS in my class, you're more than welcome to join!
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Oct 22, 2015 20:30
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Hungry Hippo posted:Well looks like all that weirdness with my passing the Final Review Panel and not getting added to the register finally got sorted out. I just received an invitation to the January 2016 FSS Orientation! Congrats! Let the craziness begin!
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Nov 25, 2015 00:01
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Hungry Hippo posted:Well I finally got passed the clearance hurdle last week, and just got the invite for the April FSS orientation! This time I actually verified directly with DS that everything is gravy, so hopefully this invite should stick. Congrats!! I know it was a long haul and major pain, but at least for me it's been completely worth it!
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Feb 20, 2016 14:42
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Bloodnose posted:I'm deeply offended and can only be consoled by gifts of cash. Come back to Guangzhou, I'll buy you a drink.
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Mar 22, 2016 13:24
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HJE-Cobra posted:Well I am at the main state building, all ready and waiting with other new hires for orientation. Exciting! Very cool. I still remember that first day. Then again it hasn't even been a year yet. 
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Apr 18, 2016 15:20
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Got my second assignment.....Addis Ababa. And I don't even drink coffee! If nothing else it will be different than China.
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Apr 6, 2017 18:34
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Leif. posted:Third or fourth goon to get Addis since this thread started. What position? PM me, I can send you some tips. Conspiracy! I'll be one of the IMS.
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Apr 10, 2017 16:32
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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?
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May 15, 2017 14:49
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zzonkmiles posted:How tight are you with your A-100 class? Do you guys still keep in touch or have you kinda splintered off? We had 20 in my Specialist class, really tight with 6, so much that we meet up in a different country every now and then. But friendly and still talk to everyone periodically.
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Mar 29, 2018 05:49
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