bureau of diplomatic security-opening

[winstonator]

I've got my PRT February. Would it be a correct assumption that the score factors into your final position on the register, or is it strictly a pass fail?

And on that note, the "satisfactory" for all events is 50%, but that certainly sounds like a failing grade to me based off the number. So long as you meet that satisfactory (50%) score, is that a pass?

[DSguy]

Satisfactory is passing, but make sure you're looking at the right age group.

Your scores have zero effect on where you place on the register. The only reason to smoke the PRT is for personal pride or to impress the agents giving it. Received that guidance from HR and the interviewing agent the day I passed BEX.

[r0802l]

Did they give you a few dates to choose from? When did you clear the background investigation?

[winstonator]

r0802l they gave me two dates to choose from, spaced a week apart. I got a clearance through the Reserves in late November. Then I got ahold of HR and did the paperwork and for reciprocity. I'm not sure when all that paperwork was accepted and deemed good, but I would estimate 3-5 weeks.

[blok2400]

I can’t seem to find the requirements for PFT anywhere, anyone that can point me to them?

[PHM2019]

Just got added to the register today and I would love an invite to the google group.

[jmann13]

I just got my email adding me to the register today as well.

[blok2400]

When was your PFT?

[PHM2019]

Last Friday and I got the confirmation email yesterday.

[jmann13]

I did mine on 1/6 and got word 1/15

[Mhuck]

Has anyone else in this recent announcement, received an email stating their application is being sent to QEP? Just wondering to compare timelines.

[quick_turn]

Nope. Nothing as of yet.

[Levithane]

Only thing I received was an email stating I was at or above the cut score, and everything moved forward.

[Mhuck]

Hope you guys hear something soon.

[FlashTACP]

Just got an email saying my packed has moved onto the QEP evaluation. Said it could be up to “8 weeks” until I hear anything else.

[quick_turn]

FlashTACP and to confirm, you applied in November and got an email in December stating you made the initial cut score? Trying to compare timelines.

[Levithane]

Same I got the email last night, moved onto QEP. Hopefully 2nd time around applying turns out better than the first.

[FlashTACP]

Yes. Applied in November. Email that I passed the online stuff in December. And now this email saying I am going to QEP. I honestly thought the email I had just received was going to be the one stating that I passed the QEP, but I guess not. I’m not holding my breath, as I age out in September, but have about 6 months of active duty time I could slide in? Guess I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

[quick_turn]

When I talked to DS at the info session they mentioned that they pay attention to age and tend to try to expedite those who are close to aging out. So maybe that’s in your favor. I age out next year so I understand your stress.

[bobbyknightkrz]

I applied in October of 2018. I'm still not even on the register. Background seems to take the longest. I have a clearance, but they do their own investigation and adjudication. Expect a very long ride, guys.

[DSguy]

Did I read that wrong or did you type that funny?

[lookingforward]

Likewise. Applied in October 2018, passed BEX in August, still waiting for the background check to be completed. Wish there was some way to know at what stage of the background they are (beyond knowing who from your contact list has been spoken to). Oh well, after waiting this long already, a few more months is not the end of the world.

[darkriver]

Yea same here. I applied in October 2018 and passed BEX in October, 2019. I completed my investigation and all of my references have been contacted. Just waiting now to hear about TS, SRP, and hopefully register!

[bobbyknightkrz]

I applied in October of 2019. I'm still not even on the register. Background seems to take the longest. I have a clearance, but they do their own investigation and adjudication. Expect a very long ride, guys.

What do you mean?

[Levithane]

What do you mean?

A. The announcement for 2019 wasn't in October 2019, it was in November. Unless you're referring to the announcement that was in 2018.
B. For the sake of the date you provided, 3-4 months is a small wait for a foreign service position.

[bobbyknightkrz]

A. The announcement for 2019 wasn't in October 2019, it was in November. Unless you're referring to the announcement that was in 2018.
B. For the sake of the date you provided, 3-4 months is a small wait for a foreign service position.

You're right. That's a mistake. It was in 2018.

[10Vet]

No worries, just want to make sure we're dealing with absolutes and not assumptions. That said, this forum has definitely been helpful.

[lookingforward]

At the same stage as you guys. BEX completed in August, medically cleared in October, met with investigator December 12th. They came to my current work 2 weeks ago to speak with HR and look at my file. To my knowledge, they have spoken to everyone that I provided as a contact, but just this week looked for additional names to confirm my previous employment. Wish I knew how much was theoretically left in the process.

[DSS-SA]

@Tayan235: A100 is the orientation course for new foreign service officer hires. DSS special agents are foreign service specialists, so there will be no correlation between A100 and class dates for DSS SAs. DSS SAs do go to the equivalent for specialists, and those dates are usually known/published in advance, but those courses are made up of all the different specialties and there is no guarantee that any specific specialty will have a group of their new hires in every specialist orientation.

Edit: I went back and read your post and you say "A100 for FSS this year" so it is likely you just inadvertently misused the A100 nomenclature but you're talking about specialist orientation. For explanation, "A100" was the room number historically where foreign service officer orientation classes were held, and that came to be how the FSO course itself was described...

[Tayan235]

Well friends, specialist orientation invites are going out now. Here’s to hoping we reach register by the next class!

[darkriver]

Applied: October 2018
QEP: April 2019
Passed BEX: October 2019
Medical Clearance granted: December 2019
BI: Met with investigator January 2020, all of my references have been contacted - awaiting update.

[lookingforward]

Applied: October 2018
QEP: April 2019
Passed BEX: August 2019
Medical Clearance granted: October 2019
BI: Met with investigator December 2020

[jpatriot88]

At what point in the selection process does the Physical Readiness Test Occur?

[bobbyknightkrz]

After clearance is done.

[jpatriot88]

In terms of attire for an OA. Should a clean beard be gone? Should I be clean shaven and just dressed to the 9s as a professional? I just want to know if my face needs to go lol

[lookingforward]

I trimmed my beard for the OA, typically it is kept short anyways, and it did not seem to be an issue. I would not worry about it as long as it is professional looking.

[Co0311]

I shaved mine off just to be safe, but the local interviewing agent kept his.

[bobbyknightkrz]

Look professional. Lots of DS agents and FSOs have facial hair.

[winstonator]

Just got on the register. Can I get an invite to this shadow register I hear about?

[winstonator]

I have no problem posting it. I believe I applied 10/18 (it was so long ago I don't recall). I didn't interview with a background investigator because I already had an investigation ongoing for my Army Reserves job. So my interview for the OA was August sometime. My clearance for the Army was finished early December, and then I promptly did the paperwork for reciprocity and I had the clearance for DSS within 10 days. I assume suitability review panel is SRP, in which case it took them 3 weeks to give me the good to go after having received my clearance. Then I got the invitation for the physical test roughly 10 days later. After I took the physical test, it took 4 days to get the email saying I was on the register. As for points, I think I passed the OA with a 5.4 or 5.5, and then I should have had .175 points added for Vet points. I haven't seen anything about my points in a while, so I don't remember exactly what they are. That estimated 5.575 or 5.675 put my in the middle tier.

So from OA to getting on the register, it took about 5 months, which isn't as long as I would have guessed.

[PHM2019]

I requested it a month ago and nobody gave out any information. I don't think it even exists anymore.

[winstonator]

Thanks for the heads up

[darkriver]

winstonator, thanks for the follow-up message! Seems like it happened pretty quickly for you. Congrats on being on the register. It seems that invites are going out - did you get one with your score?

That's not long at all. I passed OA in October and met with my BI investigator and all of my references have been contacted. I'm hoping they can adjudicate and conduct SRP in time for the next class.

[rd_1015]

Looks like A-100 invites are going out for the generalist March class. Hopefully this means hiring was authorized for the SOAR (specialist) April class too. Has anyone heard if there will be a DS cohort? I was added to the register yesterday -- really wish there was a shadow register but I think it's no longer, right?

[36thID]

We could start a new one, I'm not on the registrar but I'm close, would be interested in have a group to join once I do get on the list lol

[Tayan235]

I’m not sure anyone is certain that there is a DS cohort for April, but everyone seems to be assuming there will be.

From what I can tell, there is no shadow register for DS. Reddit seems to have one for every other track.

Congratulations on making it to the register!! Would you mind sharing your timeline for those of us sitting in clearance limbo and looking for hope?