Sit around and watch the phone, but no one's calling - Green Day

No invite for me for May.

A bunch of new people joined the management register since February, essentially doubling the list by the time the May invites were sent.  Most people who make the register get ranked above me, based on getting higher scores at the oral assessment.  So, even after the May invites thinned the list by about 20 people, I'm still ranked in the mid-thirties.

I've read speculation that many of the people on the do-not-call list are waiting for their kids to finish a school year before they move to DC.  If true, a June invite could be even more difficult to get. 

Singing zippity do da day god damnit - JT and the Clouds

I made the register.

After months of waiting in adjudication for my security clearance, I kind of got used to waiting, and expected to wait for State to run its final review.  Turns out, that only took a couple days.

I got a letter a few days ago letting me know that I'm now on the management register. 

I'll start at the end of the list of eligible hires, but I think I have a good shot at the May class.  Each class seems to take about 20 candidates from each track, and I'm currently ranked in the mid-thirties or so on the list.  It all depends on how many people in front of me are on the do-not-call list.  There could be 20 or so people who have asked not to be called until a later class, which would give me a spot in May.

I've spent a lot of time dreaming about a career in the Foreign Service, but haven't let myself really believe it would happen.  At this point though, I am allowing myself to believe. 

I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation - Joan Jett

After two months of investigation and four and a half months in adjudication, my security clearance has been granted.

I called yesterday to ask the clearance customer service folks for any news.  When the guy on the phone asked me if I was sitting down, I had a few moments of flip-flopping between getting excited and getting worried.  I sat down and asked him for the update.  He let me know that I'd been cleared and that my file is on its way over to State for the final review.

Most people get through the final review in a week or two.

The management register is very short right now, so even people with low scores are getting asked to join an orientation class as soon as they get through final review.  At this point, the March invites have gone out, so I've missed that class, but May seems very likely.