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Personal Update: Foreign Service


Raargant

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Hi all,

A while back, I believe I posted to let you guys know that I passed the oral assessment phase of joining the US Foreign Service as a junior diplomat, and was awaiting my top secret security clearance as well as medical clearances. I just wanted to give you guys an update; all of that is done, and today I received my official offer of appointment, which I accepted.

I will be joining the September 14th A-100 training class, at which time, I will be a junior officer of the United States Foreign Service. About three months or so after that, I'll be shipping out to my first overseas duty station.

Thanks for all of your warm-wishes! :)

Raargant

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The FS base salary schedule is similar to the general schedule; as a person with a year's worth of full time professional work experience and a BA degree, I should be class six, step six. Of course, there's a bunch of other perks, such as hardship differentials, cost of living allowances, and housing allowances, but as far as the schedule itself goes, there it is.

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RE killalou: I'm in the political track, so a lot of policy work, analysis, and (later on) negotiations et. al.

RE mudder: Official cover is used by the CIA, but it's not as common as you think, for a simple reason; in many countries, all diplomats are considered to be spies until proven otherwise, so they don't get as much access as you think (and are often trailed). Private sector cover is more dangerous and doesn't allow for immunity, but allows much more freedom of movement. But I digress...

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RE mudder: Official cover is used by the CIA' date=' but it's not as common as you think, for a simple reason; in many countries, [b']all diplomats are considered to be spies until proven otherwise, so they don't get as much access as you think (and are often trailed). Private sector cover is more dangerous and doesn't allow for immunity, but allows much more freedom of movement. But I digress...
You win. Go join Xi then. Talk about private sector. If you weren't running around shooting innocents they'd be suspicious. ;)
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Thanks for the well-wishes, all!

Re: Raargant

Very interesting...you say you're on the political track...where do you see yourself with this in 20 years or so?

Assuming I stick with it, hopefully in the Senior Foreign Service? It's the FS equivalent of general/flag ranks in the military and navy.

If I decide ten years down the line that I'd like to give something else a shot (or want to 'settle down' with a family), I might segue over to the private sector as an political analyst/consultant.

And yes, there actually is always the chance that I might pop over and run for elected office eventually...

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