Friday, August 6, 2010

Time To Regroup

Honestly the biggest bummer about thinking about Plan B and C is figuring out how to maintain my Arabic proficiency. I don't live in a hot bed of Arabic instruction so I had to be very resourceful, yes one of the 13 dimensions, to become proficient in the language. I had a great tutor who really got me through the SCNL test, but he is moving and the local community college lost their instructor who was just OK, but better than nothing.

So I found two other possible options and will be meeting with them next week to see if one of them is a good fit and hopefully we can put together a program that will work. My wife who has been very gracious throughout this process also gave me the green light to go back to the Middle East for another cram session. Based upon when I can take the FSWE again I will probably try to find someplace in January.

For those of you who are about to start the process, LEARN a language. The rosters are getting long and it seems like the days of getting a 5.3 (easier said than done) and getting called are probably over. I only wish that I could auction off my Arabic and Veteran's preference points on EBay! You can get proficient in one of the SCNL's in under a year if you work hard at it so put together a long term plan and do it.

The other silver lining is that I still have two other interesting options where learning Arabic has really helped where I am still playing the waiting game. So all is not lost.

8 comments:

  1. you are so right about learning a language. People should do it at the start of the FSOT, not after passing the OA. Glad you are looking forward and hope your other options work out, if you want them to!

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  2. It definitely seems to be an imperfect system and you have to do everything you can to try to tip the scales in your favor to make it to the OA. You probably know better than most about the vagaries of the OA and all you can do is look forward and keep as many options open as possible.

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  3. Thanks for your kind and helpful comments.

    I'm so sorry about your OA. That's a major bummer. You have the language and the vet point bump, which is AWESOME! Learning a language takes time and money. It's been a challenge for us.

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  4. I'm definitely over it. I guess the good thing is that if I decide to do it again and happen to find that extra .05 I'll be OK. I can't even imagine the frustration of having passed the OA and then having to start all over again. The process is such an emotional roller coaster.

    Like B Files said in her blog if you are about to start this if you don't know a language start now.

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  5. Language is so helpful, esp a hard one like Arabic. I passed the Russian exam, and it shot me so far up the list that I never did find out where I placed - they called me as soon as my clearances went through. I'd think Arabic would do the same thing. If you end up studying in Jordan, you'll have to let me know.

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  6. Will do for sure. I've spent a lot of time in Amman and made some good local friends there. There is a great place that a friend runs not too far from the embassy.

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  7. so do you have to retake the Arabic exam when you start over? I guess so, as they treat each candidacy as new. That's lousy.

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  8. I may be wrong on this, but I believe that the phone assessment test as far as getting bonus points once you pass the OA is good for one year. If that is the case and I test again then I do not think I have to take it again. I am pretty far down the road with another government agency and I tested 3+/4- in Arabic.

    If you do decide to go the Arabic route I have several good skype options if you need to go that route.

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