Catchup Post: Clearances!

"So what happens after the Oral Assessment?" you might ask. Well, it's just the beginning! After passing the OA, you immediately begin your security clearance when you meet with the Diplomatic Security investigator before leaving the test site. At the time of my OA, the electronic system for completing your security clearance application had been taken down due to the security breaches. I was told to wait a few weeks and complete it when it comes back on. Thankfully it did return after 4 weeks and I was able to complete my security clearance paperwork.  This paperwork is no joke- it's dozens of screens of questions about everything from all your past jobs, to your travel history, to your international friends, drug history, computer use, etc. In September I received a phone call from the investigator assigned to my case and we met for about an hour. He also spoke with several friends, neighbors, co-workers (past and current!) and someone even called my mom. 

Around the same time, I was going through the medical clearance. I pushed it back a bit because I was a bit sick over the summer and wanted to go into the clearance as healthy as possible, but I went to my doctors office, got some blood tests and chest x-ray and submitted all my paperwork.  

I received confirmation that my medical clearance was approved in October. In November I followed up and received confirmation that my security clearance had been granted. The week before Thanksgiving, I was told that my entire file was being passed to the Final Suitability Review panel and that they usually take about 5 days to make their decision. Well, Thanksgiving week happened and I started to hear that invitations were getting sent out for the January class. I was excited that I might hear back and receive my invitation for January!  But then another week went by. I followed up and was told that they had more questions and they'd get back in touch with me if they needed anything.  A few more weeks went by. Christmas came and went. I was getting quite anxious, nervous and concerned.  What did they see in my file that was causing them so much concern? I imagined a table of suited individuals debating my file, going back and forth about why I should or should not be allowed to join. The worst part was just not knowing. 

Finally, I received confirmation the first week of January that my file had passed Suitability and I was on the register - Number 5 of 9. The register is the list of individuals who have passed through all the hurdles and were waiting for an invitation to a training class. Well I then immediately received an invite to the January training class, which was beginning a mere two weeks in the future.  I was given the option to decline one invitation, which I decided to do, based on the fact that I would have had to quit my job immediately (without notice) and get myself to DC within two weeks.  That just wasn't going to happen, no matter how much I wanted to join the Foreign Service.  About two weeks later, I received my invitation for the April class, and here we are!!