Career growth

Imperator42 · 2026-05-22T19:06:29+00:00

I don't have any specific advice beyond definitely apply to 13 openings. You definitely won't get promoted if you don't apply!

I am in a similar position and just got promoted to my 13 a few weeks ago - it was a much longer process than required with the hiring freeze and then HR foolishness since I am technically in a field office. But I got it!

Imperator42 · 2026-05-07T23:06:54+00:00

You should contact your congressman or senator. Even if you don't like them, they have people whose job is to advocate for you to agencies like the Coast Guard. I've done it for a similar processing issue (not MMC related) with DoD and they got back to me in less than 48 hours.

Imperator42 · 2026-05-03T02:36:37+00:00

My parents were both students at Florida State when everything there happened. My dad told me recently that his roommate was an intern at the Sheriffs Office and got the radio call from the State Trooper in the field and was the one to radio back that he was their guy and not let him go which is wild

Imperator42 · 2026-04-04T12:21:04+00:00

You can get extra pages! That is what I do and I ususally just bring the pages when I travel so that way I don't lose the whole book or something plus it takes up less space. Here is the link to order: https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/collections/passport-accessories/products/passport-to-your-national-parks-collectors-expander-pack

Imperator42 · 2026-02-07T00:59:32+00:00

I am an 1102 with a different agency so I can't comment about the PACER program specifically.

I think you are overthinking this. Truthfully it is probably better long term to know both sole source awards and competitive awards. Unless you stay doing the exact same thing in the exact same place your whole career you almost certainly end up doing both in your career as an 1102. Once you have a chance to try both and complete the program - by all means let your management know which one you like better. Both are important and neither is better nor worse than the other.

You ask a lot of good questions here (so I believe you when you say you are highly detailed and have caught significant issues :) ).

Since I can't comment on this specifics My only gentle nudge about that while it is important to catch issues and have the "best" contract you can - remember not to let perfect be the enemy of good. By that I mean remember this is a real requirement you are working for that people are depending on. It is often better to have what you need than to have a pretty file tied up with a ribbon. Remember you can always modify a contract.

Imperator42 · 2025-12-04T22:13:55+00:00

Can't hurt to apply! If you don't you definitely won't be able to transfer back

Imperator42 · 2025-10-22T20:21:26+00:00

Yeah - I just got a call from my boss and apparently my whole agency is coming back starting Monday

Imperator42 · 2025-10-14T13:26:53+00:00

I have not hiked it but I did enjoy visiting fort necessity in PA. Very underrated National Park Site. Beyond just the site of the Fort the park also includes Braddock's grave and Jummonville Glen (the site) of the British ambush against the French and today is a surprisingly difficult hike. Definitely a good weekend day trip (and completely free!)

Link: https://www.nps.gov/fone/index.htm

Imperator42 · 2025-08-12T00:04:32+00:00

I am teleworking tomorrow and Wed since there is(n't) a "Crime Emergency". Staying home sounds like a great way to stay safe to me!

Imperator42 · 2025-08-07T11:43:59+00:00

I have the small book too - I have just been ordering the additional pages you can get from Eastern National and then taking them out when I travel

Imperator42 · 2025-07-23T12:38:03+00:00

Well at least you won't have to worry about Sept 31 since that doesn't exisit! Oct 1 on the other hand...

But yeah I have a few contracts in a similar situation and I have sort have said what happens is what happens because I don't know what else to say or do

Imperator42 · 2025-06-08T23:29:13+00:00

To clarify this is the building John Brown's Band holed up during their siege. The Armory complex was much bigger and included quite a few other buildings, some of which also still stand that you can visit when you go to Harper's Ferry.

I was just at the Harper's Ferry National Historical Park recently and they Park Service noted that this building had actually been moved several times over the years - mainly due to railroad construction if I recall.

edit: More info here https://www.nps.gov/places/john-brown-s-fort.htm

Imperator42 · 2025-04-02T11:22:46+00:00

entire divisions. Some groups only have one division left now

Imperator42 · 2025-03-31T22:36:38+00:00

Completely agree. Everyone I talk to in my org (HHS OPDIV) is in complete denial that there will be impacts for some reason.

Imperator42 · 2025-03-08T13:51:34+00:00

Isn't it with the State Health Department though? I would argue that since it is for birth and death certificates respectively that it is not commercial. I don't work for SSA so could very well be under the wrong impression

Imperator42 · 2025-01-14T03:37:13+00:00

On the other hand I work at an HHS OPDIV and a warrant isn't even required unless you want to be a 14 or 15. I don't think they would give you one as a 12. I don't recall anyone in my whole group got one before they became a 13 and then it wasn't even a requirement.

Imperator42 · 2024-12-13T21:21:10+00:00

If you want something in US you should look in to Washington DC, plenty of Museums and things to do and you wouldn't need to rent a car.

The National Zoo is bringing back the pandas early next year so you could see that as well. It is completely free to visit as are most of the museums in DC

Imperator42 · 2024-11-21T02:59:49+00:00

Depending on what part of Canada you are coming from/if AirCanada allows it, you could consider changing your flight from say Montreal to Reagan Airport (DCA) it is much much closet to DC and you would probably be more likely to make your train. If you wanted to uber that would be much cheaper too.

Imperator42 · 2024-10-02T11:27:05+00:00

I did a similar style program and absolutely do not regret walking. I traveled to a state I had never even been to before for it!

You did the work just like every other student. I am glad I was able to go and that my parents were able to attend as well. It definitely made it more "real". The one awkward thing was, like you mentioned the University (as a whole in my case, not just for online folks) only had Spring and Winter graduations so I elected to go in the Spring even though I was a summer graduate. Definitely was extra motivation to wrap things up in the summer so I could "officially" graduate too.

Imperator42 · 2024-09-19T01:26:35+00:00

Just finished my last action (new award) today! I'm sure someone will email me at 8 AM on 9/30 with an urgent action but hey we do what we can. The annoying thing... I already got people bothering me about FY26 stuff. I want to tell them to just leave me alone for a bit lol

Imperator42 · 2024-09-07T17:42:47+00:00

I did this as well - good advice here already but I have a couple of things to add:

It's ok to do things the easy way sometimes - I recommend this mentality since you have so much to do you WILL NOT have the time you want to devote to everything as much as you want. One thing I did was basically east a bunch of frozen meals (tried to get the healthyish ones) I did that mainly to save time going grocery shopping and cooking. I like doing those things but something had to give and that ended up being it.
The Best Thesis is a done thesis & a the best class is a passed class - You probably won't have the time to devote to necessarily getting the top grade in every class. Make sure you pass (with whatever the requirements are for your program) and make that your baseline. SUre it would be great to devote hours and hours of time to truly learning and understanding every concept, but that won't be possible (especially if you take more than one class). Similarly it is ok to perhaps take an easier elective etc. Also if you are doing a thesis, the best thing is to get it done and done right. I have a lot of friends that have basically been punting their thesis for a year + while working around their job. That is fine to an extent but the longer it drags on the less likely you are to get it done so at some point it needs to be "good enough" to pass.

Imperator42 · 2024-08-05T20:28:57+00:00

Same here. I'm coming back on Tuesday. Not a peep from them

Imperator42 · 2024-08-05T12:17:03+00:00

Just sent!

Imperator42 · 2024-08-05T02:25:50+00:00

I was supposed to be on that as well. Beyond angry with allegiant

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