Today, 825 days after submitting my application, I learned that I passed the Foreign Service Specialist Exam and received a conditional offer of employment to join the State Department as a General Services Officer (essentially a logistics role, similar to what I did in Mumbai). First and foremost, it’s a huge honor to have made it through such a rigorous process: resume and essays, a two-hour test at a PearsonVue center, and then a 75-minute oral assessment/interview.
I say conditional because there are still several steps ahead. Next comes verification of my security clearance, a medical review, and a suitability review. If I make it through all of that, I’ll be placed on a register with other General Services Officers, ranked by overall score. Then, four times a year when A-100 classes begin, candidates are selected from that list—highest scores first—and offered a spot. Only after accepting that offer do you officially become a Foreign Service Officer. So while passing is a big milestone, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about whether I’ll actually get called up.
This definitely adds another layer of complexity to life since we don’t know when—or if—that offer might come. In a perfect scenario, it wouldn’t happen until the tail end of our Berlin tour, around summer 2029. If it comes earlier, though, I’ll be faced with a tough decision: decline the offer or leave Berlin early and be apart from my family while I attend training in DC. And after that—since first assignments are directed, not chosen—I could be off to language training or straight to post (most likely NOT Berlin).
When I notice myself getting worked up about all the possible scenarios that could play out, I am choosing to gently remind myself that there’s no sense in solving problems I don’t actually have yet. It’s funny—after a stretch of hard things, I now find myself stressed about multiple good things happening at once. That’s life, I guess…
In other news, we’re THRILLED to have Nick back after a very stressful 10 days when he was in lockdown in Baghdad. I’m incredibly relieved to have that behind us. Our summer transfer plans are still coming together, but it’s looking like Nia and I will leave Bend in mid-June after I complete our packout in early June. From there, we’ll visit DC and Minnesota (order TBD) before heading to Berlin in August. Nia’s school starts in mid-August, so we know we need to arrive by then. Nick finishes his current tour around August 1st, and at that point we’ll either do a quick home leave together or head straight to Berlin and postpone home leave for later.
Nick will be with us in Bend through mid-April—possibly longer if he’s able to stay and get an ankle surgery he needs—so there’s still a lot up in the air. Hoping we’ll have more clarity in the next month or so.
In the meantime, I am holding down the fort at home while Nick and Nia enjoy their second annual Dad/Daughter road trip. This year they’re in Utah—Moab, Canyonlands, and Arches—and are having a blast doing all the things I don’t particularly enjoy. So really, it’s working out great for everyone 😉 Here are a few pics from their adventures:
Check it out! I saved myself some off-roading-induced vomiting but can still be in the photo album… 🤣
