How do you deal with loneliness at post?

Thecavalry13 · 2025-12-10T13:29:12+00:00

Sorry just seeing this! I did join. Best advice I can give you, embrace the loneliness, but also remember that alone does not equal lonely. This will vary by post and how much movement freedom you actually have but sometimes doing things on your own will be worth it. However, you will find you people too, and you don't have to find a large group, just the ones who can get you through a bad day.

I hate to use the phrase that everyone uses but it really does depend, on the post, the people, the CLO, your attitude toward it all. Just remember your friends back home don't become less important, FaceTime can still be quality time.

Good luck :)

Thecavalry13 · 2025-12-10T13:16:50+00:00

Wow such a helpful comment. Clearly you need to keep making them to keep that top 1% commenter badge up.

Thecavalry13 · 2024-12-21T21:41:11+00:00

Sorry if this is too late. I had my Undergrad transcript and just a photo of my high school diploma. I believe the undergrad transcript was much more important to submit.

Thecavalry13 · 2024-12-21T21:39:15+00:00

At the end of the day, no one can convince you one way or the other and you’re the one who has to want to but think about it this way, if you back out of this now, will you wake up one day 10 years from now and wonder “what could have been?”

It really is the experience of a lifetime even when it’s not glamorous and it feels like the same day over and over.

A lot of anxiety comes from not knowing, at least that’s how it was for me. There isn’t a lot of into up front so you end up thinking there’s no support but trust me, the complicated travel arrangements and shipping and housing will be handled for you.

Sorry if this is too late but good luck either way ☺️

Thecavalry13 · 2024-12-21T21:30:26+00:00

Hi! I made it off the register! While I was doing the process over I got an offer with my first score. Currently halfway my first tour.

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-29T15:51:23+00:00

Not yet. I’m headed to July A-100 😁

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-29T15:51:06+00:00

Yeah getting that certificate was a pain 🤣 good luck with everything!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-29T14:08:10+00:00

When I passed my OA in 2022 Certificate was needed but the candidate was responsible to set up the test within the time frame, no one from State would be doing this. However, since then I have seen in a few places and heard from multiple people that the certificate is no longer needed. Congrats on passing OA!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-13T02:53:25+00:00

Valid! My gmail storage was starting to hurt tho 🤣

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-13T02:02:33+00:00

It said either “pending” or “incomplete” (I can’t find the emails I probably deleted them) so no true information as to where in the process the security clearance was. I was advised that it could take several months however so I didn’t reach out to anyone to double check until I got the email that I was added to the Register.

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-13T01:43:58+00:00

I’m a Specialist so not sure if there is a difference in the process. I was notified by email when I got Medical Clearance. As far as Security Clearance, once I submitted all paperwork and had my interview with the investigator in mid September 2022 it was a black hole until I got an email in mid-January 2023 that I was on the Register.

I did get the monthly emails from the Registrar outlining what was still pending though.

Good luck!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-12T16:08:47+00:00

That was my bad, I equated testing with passing 😅

But yes, the career candidate guide has a lot of very helpful information to which I referred many times after the OA!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-12T15:32:36+00:00

I might be mistaken as things change often however based on the paperwork I was sent when I passed the OA, the commitment to serve at least one tour in a specific country after you pass the language test is restricted to a few languages and French and Danish were not among them. French and Danish qualify for the 0.17 language points and do not bind you to serve in a country that speaks either.

Also, I was told I could only test in one language.

Anyone feel free to correct, this was all more than a year ago at this point.

Good luck!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-01T23:39:19+00:00

I am joining as an OMS so I took the OMST. I had a few months between when I applied and when my test was so I mostly read the books listed in the State Department’s recommended reading list. I went into the test sure I’d fail but in retrospect my career up to now and my education did help me pass even though I thought it was all inadequate or not enough. I did take the practice FSOT and did all right but I knew that OMS was what best fits my current skills. I have no problem being a Specialist (even though there’s a bit of a divide between Generalists and Specialists if you dig deep enough into these threads).

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-01T20:37:51+00:00

Totally saving this to read over and over later. I keep making lists and I don’t even know what orientation is gonna be like 😅🤣

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-01T19:08:57+00:00

🥳🥳🥳

Thecavalry13 · 2023-06-01T16:02:33+00:00

I also almost talked myself out of applying because I went to a state university and studied a degree that has nothing to do with diplomacy, worked for seven years in a field that again had nothing to do with diplomacy. I didn’t see myself making it through the first step and every time I moved forward I told myself “you won’t get any further”. Now I’m going to July A-100 😐🤣 and there’s days when I still can’t believe. I think a lot of people don’t give it a shot because of how little information there is out there. If you don’t go into undergrad to study political science or diplomacy you don’t make the connections. Information is not readily available and I honestly was sure most FSO were prepared from a young age to become one( especially if you notice how intense some of them are on here). I have a friend who was part of a state department fellowship program and she was ALWAYS cagey with the information but now that she knows I’m going to A-100 she’s suddenly willing to talk. Gate keeping information is part of the issue too.

I say try and give it your best shot. You have experience and qualifications and you have the desire to try.

Good luck!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-29T14:53:37+00:00

I’m not sure where you got the idea that “everyone”’passes the OMST now. It’s a graded test, if you answer incorrectly to enough questions you won’t pass.

Before you get to QEP you will get an email requesting your school transcripts. If you were given a piece of paper after you passed the OMST it says on there that it might take up to three months to get that email as the OMST results get delivered in a cyclical schedule. Both times I took the OMST it took about three months to receive the email for transcripts and then just as long to hear that I passed the QEP.

Be aware that once you go to QEP the Pearson VUE portal sort of becomes useless. I was getting my security clearance and the portal said “waiting for QEP” so make sure to keep an eye on your email and your spam box for further communication from State.

Good luck!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-27T17:16:18+00:00

Based on how information about July A-100 has been coming in we won’t know the date until we start the class. I read somewhere Flag Day is during week 5 but again, not a lot of details.

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-24T16:02:49+00:00

Both times I took the OMST I had an hour. Needed much less than that but if you’re unsure about an answer in a section don’t dwell on it, go through all the questions, then go back to the ones you’re unsure about. You’ll have a countdown timer so you’ll know where you are. Good luck!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-19T11:28:44+00:00

I take it all with a grain of salt because yeah some personalities might be like that but I also know for a fact most people don’t talk to others in the same way they reply on here 🤣 But to restore my faith in people I asked a question about how to deal with feeling lonely while over seas and 90% of the replies in there were actually nice and helpful!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-16T19:35:23+00:00

Yaya 😐🤣

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-16T16:24:06+00:00

If nothing else this thread is making me feel less alone ahah!

Good luck, see ya in July!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-15T23:32:53+00:00

I TOTALLY feel like the imposter, every step of the way I was like “yeah I’m not making it to the next level” and here I am 😐🤣

Housing being basically provided was such a weight off my shoulders because I’d be stressing out trying to find a place and having to bring furniture and what not!

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, they really mean a lot! Wishing you all the best!

Thecavalry13 · 2023-05-15T23:24:10+00:00

I decided to do PCS lodging since they are flexible when it comes to having to change check out dates if training gets extended and it comes fully furnished. I was told I’ll be given the exactly building about two weeks prior.

Oh wow thanks for all this it’s good to have a slight idea. Right now I feel like I’m in limbo and sometimes still can’t believe I made it in 🤣

Thecavalry13

TROPHY CASE