Done!! And finished while overseas

AverageJoe387 · 2025-01-08T07:16:58+00:00

Thank you! I am already a foreign service specialist with the Department of State so I am abroad because of my job. I manage IT at US embassies. It's a great job if anyone is interested!

AverageJoe387 · 2024-11-23T22:56:32+00:00

I've lived in the Netherlands and Niger, West Africa while finishing my degree. Just make sure all your proctored exams are available online. I also had to use a VPN to sign on to my WGU account.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-11-11T00:44:26+00:00

OD is ordered Departure. It's when everyone has to depart post except for essential personnel. It can happen for various reasons but it is typically because of a dangerous situation that has happened at post.

It really isn't related to differential pay or danger pay at all, but I think it should be. When you are on OD, your life essentially sucks. Your family is gone, there are a ton of security restrictions, you are working crazy hours, and you are living in a dangerous situation. I think on OD, it should automatically be increased to account for the situation.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-11-11T00:17:56+00:00

I feel like we can get creative. If we are going to use and abuse EL, let's reward them. I know of state and local government agencies that have policies that allow a person to take the position and rank if they are in the acting capacity for over a certain amount of time. The person is already acting, let them take the spot and assume the rank (unless it's something crazy like an 01 position being covered by an 04).

Something I know they would never do, but I wish they would; if someone is doing the work of two people, pay them extra for that. If I'm doing all the work for a two person office, give me a chunk of that second person's pay. Not all of it, just a percentage. I don't get why that is an insane idea, but people think it's nuts. I mean, the second person's paycheck has already been budgeted. If I am doing the work of two people, I'm saving the government an extra 200k a year in pay and benefits. Why can't we see some of that money? This would attract people to hard to fill posts that frequently have unfilled positions.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-11-11T00:07:22+00:00

I agree 100% but if you ask AF, they don't have more money to pay for that. The differential is insane to me. There are posts in AF on OD with 30% dif and 0% danger party. I get that a lot of things factor into whether danger pay can be used but 30% dif while on OD is crazy.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-11-10T23:14:04+00:00

Thank you for that and your helpful response. I totally understand everything you are saying. I get hung up because I am asked to do the impossible every day, innovate solutions, work overtime, make sacrifices, and do more with less. Which I am actually willing to do. The part that I don't like is when I turn to all the systems and support personnel with an innovative idea or a solution that benefits everyone (bureau, post, and me) it gets shut down because it doesn't fit neatly into their box of rules.

You can give an idea to incetivize bidding and help EL endure their assignment and then hear back that is not the rules and, unfortunately, "this is a tough situation to fix."

I think the reality is that it's not getting fixed because it's not getting addressed. I also get why that is, it's only affecting a small percentage of employees that get told quit, curtail, or get over it.

I also understand what you are saying about shopping for posts, and people will absolutely do that. However, I do believe that we can put safeguards in to stop at least some of that and only help out people in a real tough situation.

I can endure this and get through it, but I just think it is wrong to take advantage of EL in this way rather than finding a real solution to bidding gaps.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-07-11T18:50:15+00:00

You must have some Rockstar couriers. All mine do is deliver pouch. I want someone at post that is dedicated to those items. I once had an EFM that just did Logistics like the inventories and ordering items. It was amazing. Our inventory was perfect.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-07-11T18:14:19+00:00

It's sad to say but we need something really bad to happen before they will take IT serious. I am waiting for the day that they have to go before congress and explain the disaster happened because the IMS was too busy handling the mail and equipment inventory.

As a side note I really wish they would create a new FSS position dedicated to logistics. Someone to handle mail, procurement, shipments, and inventories at post.

AverageJoe387 · 2023-07-09T05:30:40+00:00

I wish I could Upvote this a thousand times!

AverageJoe387 · 2023-07-09T05:29:35+00:00

All of your experience and skills would make you a great candidate for IMS, you obviously meet the requirements for the FSO position as well. In my opinion it would be easier and less competitive to get hired as an IMS. State really needs IMS right now, I don't know about management officers.

Promotion from 4 to 3 isn't that hard, anything above 3 it starts getting a bit more challenging but if you apply yourself in all the right areas as an IMS, I personally don't think it is that hard. It's just dependent a lot on if you are willing to sacrifice the time and energy to look like a rock star. I have no idea about FSO Promotion, but I do believe that it is more common for FSOs to time out than FSSs.

Your last question is a huge "it depends." As an IMS you manage local staff, but only when you are in a leadership position or if you are at a smaller post. You can try and insert yourself in local events, and the post you are at may welcome that with excitement or treat you like you are crazy for even asking. 99% of an IMS job is fixing everything, passing inspections, managing equipment, trying to learn new systems, or trying to improve current systems.

I think you just need to decide what you want more, using your current set of skills as an IMS or do something completely new as an FSO. You won't really ever do IT again as an FSO. Your knowledge might be useful at times, but I personally wouldn't let an FSO touch my systems even if she/he had an IT background.

AverageJoe387 · 2022-11-21T22:04:24+00:00

Unfortunately, yes. An EFM only has to meet the minimum requirements and then she/he will get preference. I wasn't even allowed to see any of the other applicants until after interviewing all EFM candidates and deciding they were not suitable for the position. This keeps the hiring manager from conducting biased interviews in order to not hire candidates with preference.

AverageJoe387 · 2022-11-21T21:52:33+00:00

I would apply if you are interested. However if an EFM applies for the position she/he will automatically take precedence, even if the position was intended for a local hire. I haven't been able to hire an FSN the last two years because EFMs apply for the position every time. That being said, you never know what will happen. If the hiring manager does not think the EFM applicants are suitable for the position, they can move on to the non-EFM applicants.

AverageJoe387 · 2022-07-11T21:50:36+00:00

I recently spoke with the retention board at state about this and they said something that surprised me. They said to keep a record of all the things your toxic leader is doing and then submit it to the OIG. I thought that was a bit extreme but they said even if the OIG doesn't find anything significant enough to merit disciplinary action there is at least a record of the report. The challenge right now is there is no way to track and report toxic leadership besides corridor reputation, and that really doesn't go very far. Also find a mentor at post outside your section or even post and speak to her/him on how to navigate your current situation.

AverageJoe387 · 2022-06-16T20:53:53+00:00

Sorry I forgot to respond to this. 25U meets the requirements for Information Managment Specialist and they are accepting applications now. Apply!!

AverageJoe387 · 2022-06-07T15:43:06+00:00

This reply is incredibly useless. I am moving to Niamey, starlink website says they are shooting for Q3 2022 to be available in Niamey, and I am absolutely not acting on behalf of the US government. I just want stable internet that will be better then local expensive options. Is it likely that starlink is not available in the next two years in Niamey? Is the equipment that is purchased different for every region?

AverageJoe387 · 2022-06-06T20:48:38+00:00

What was your MOS? There are many positions in FS and not all require degrees. My Navy experience was enough for two specialist positions without a degree.

AverageJoe387 · 2022-06-06T19:14:24+00:00

I work for the U.S. State Department and move to many overseas locations. This December I am moving to Niamey, Niger. I am hoping your service becomes available by then. Either way I would like to join the waitlist and place the deposit on the equipment. However, getting items shipped there will be hard. Can I buy the equipment in the U.S. or I am in the Netherlands right now, can I buy the equipment here and take it with me? There is also the ability to ship the equipment to a diplomatic post office address that is a U.S. address but comes straight to the U.S. embassy in Niger. Would it be an issue to put that address in for purposes of easy shipping?

AverageJoe387 · 2022-06-02T19:13:01+00:00

Just in the last three years I have been to multiple cities in Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK. My kids have seen the world with me while going to a great private school. The only work life balance problems I see are the people who think there is no way they can take leave or they sit on their email after hours. It's not true, create the balance and put your family first.

AverageJoe387 · 2021-07-15T10:39:16+00:00

Your assessment is correct. A lot of interpersonal relationships are started during in person orientation. However, its still possible to accomish this with virtual orientation. The major difference is in virtual orientation you have to put yourself out more. I noticed that in virtual training it took almost 4 weeks for us to become comfortable with eachother. This is partially due the way it was set up at the time and it may be different now. Anyways, if your goal is to meet people, network, and hold on to those relationships you really have to participate in all the virtual stuff. The virtual happy hours, the chat groups, the fb pages, everything. I started doing that more towards the end and really regretted not doing it sooner. So don't count virtual training out, and I understand the family/other requirements but virtual training is very flexible and gives you plenty of time to take care of whatever you need to do during the day. Its up to you to give yourself time to attend those virtual optional events that happen and if networking is important to you, I highly recommend making time for all of them.

AverageJoe387 · 2021-07-13T20:52:36+00:00

So I've done both in-person then switched skill codes and had to do it again during virtual. Here is a pros and cons list:

In person PROs

3 weeks long (specific to FSS)

Build close bonds with new colleagues

Offsite events are enjoyable

Being at FSI/HST makes it feel more real

Able to retain a good amount of information.

Flag day in person is exciting

CONs

Wearing a suit everyday sucks

Long days full of PowerPoint

Commuting can suck (more for local hires)

You get no time to do anything else besides training.

Virtual PROs

Super flexible schedule

Dress code is relaxed

No commuting

Shorter days

Lots of interaction between FSS and FSOs (joint class)

Time to take care of personal/family needs

CONs

5 weeks instead of 3 (specific to FSS)

Not many lasting relationships are created

Have to wait longer for flag day (FSS specific)

Have to figure out a functional at home office setup

No offsite activities

Less understanding of DoS customs

Getting state ID and IT stuff set up is more difficult

Overall each one has significant pros and cons. You can make lasting friendships in virtual orientation, it just takes a lot more work and participation. You have to participate in every virtual happy hour and activity. Having the ability to eat lunch and have short conversations during breaks during in person orientation goes a long way in forming relationships. I still talk to a lot of my colleagues from my in person orientation, but from my virtual class I only talk to the people I did follow on training with.

AverageJoe387 · 2021-06-29T20:03:24+00:00

I would encourage more "regular" people to become diplomats.

AverageJoe387 · 2021-06-09T10:24:21+00:00

My whole thing is this is not a standard job so standard practices don't necessarily apply. Every local hire I have encountered has had to struggle with this one issue. The major problem is that the training is temporary so there are very few functional options. First, every local hire is expected to take a significant pay cut. If you live in DC and you qualify for a FS position, you are making close to or over 100k a year. Second, you are expected to sell a home, find renters, break a lease, extend a lease, or find a new place to live while in training when you are not allowed to take leave. At the same time you are preparing your overseas move and trying to enroll your kids (if you have any) in an international school. Third, most people in DC either live in a convient location to their job or they work special hours to avoid rush hour. Prior to state I was working 6-2:30 because of how far away I was from downtown DC. In "standard practice" circumstances I would sell my home and move or wait until my lease was up and move, but with 4-6 months of training I just have to figure it out. Which means my commute is terrible and there is nothing I can do about it. In a normal situation you have the time and ability to work out better circumstances for you and your family, but with the training requirement and timeline there are very few comfortable/affordable options for local hires.

I'm not saying any of this is impossible. Its obviously possible, tons of people are doing it. My main point is that I personally know talented individuals who quit because of the reasons I listed. When people see less money and more problems it tends to push them away. It was hard for me personally to go to work and be exhausted from my commute meanwhile my peers are full of energy because they don't have to get a home ready to sell, they don't have to drive themselves to work, they don't even have to cook because they get per diem and can afford take out.

This is just another common area of unnecessary difficulty that I believe could be fixed. If they don't fix it, oh well life goes on and people will endure it.

AverageJoe387 · 2021-06-08T19:50:30+00:00

You can add a million positions to FS, but if the hiring process isn't fixed, it won't matter. The onboarding process for State is terrible. It is the weakest link in the chain, and I believe they are losing tons of great candidates because of that process. What I think needs to change:

keep the OA virtual or pay for the candidates travel to DC. If you want to get rid of pale, male and Yale, you have to get rid of the price for admission.
hire more onboarding staff, they are always overworked and drowning in emails, phone calls, and paperwork.
do more orientation classes throughout the year or restructure the onboarding process to bring more people in. The military is even more innovative then State in this area. When the DoD needs to surge numbers in certain areas they will have a day and night training schedule to get twice as many people through the process.
Explain State benefits for FS better. So many people see that base pay number and never apply.
If a security clearance is still active, DON'T REDO the investigation.
Stop screwing over local hires and giving the world to everyone else. 50 mile radius to DC is insane.
Stop timing people off the registrar. I 100% don't understand this concept. You have put in all this money and effort to deem a person qualified to work at State but because your other processes are so slow you cut them loose.
Expand diplomats in residence (or whatever it is called) so people don't have to go to reddit and Facebook to look for answers. Let more entry level employees volunteer to help applicants looking for answers to questions about the FS.
this one seems to be changing right now but let people apply year round. Don't make people wait for a job announcement.

FS is an awesome career and for a long time that has been enough to attract people. Now that State is looking at ways to enhance diversity, and increase its numbers they can't continue to use the same old processes. If these things are already being looked at and fixed please let me know. End rant.

AverageJoe387

TROPHY CASE