The Other 1%

I was recently reading the official State forums and someone asked how many people were hired as FSOs. One of the "green checkmarks," a DOS employee, stated that 290 people were hired as FSOs for fiscal year 2013 (which means October 2012 through September 2013). Another 320 or so were hired as FSSs. The green checkmark also said that the total number of candidates for the FSOT was "upwards of 20,000" people.

Let's set aside the FSS numbers and focus on the FSOs. At a bare (and unlikely) minimum, there were 20,000 people who registered for the FSOT. Of that 20,000, only 290 people were actually invited to an A-100 class. That means fewer than 1.5 % of all candidates successfully become FSOs. If you had a room of 200 people, roughly 3 of them would be successful. That is an amazing statistic.

So that got me thinking of all the ways candidates can get stopped dead in their tracks:

1. They register for the FSOT, but don't show up to take the test.

2. They take the FSOT, but score below a 154 on the multiple choice section and fail it.

3. They pass the multiple choice section of the FSOT, but score below a 6 on the essay and fail it.

4. They pass the FSOT, but fail to submit their Personal Narratives.

5. They submit their PNs, but do not pass the Qualifications Evaluation Panel.

6. They pass the QEP, but fail to schedule an Oral Assessment.

7. They take the OA, but score below a 5.25 and fail it.

8. They pass the OA, but do not submit their security paperwork in a timely manner.

9. They pass the OA, but cannot pass the medical check.

10. They pass the medical check, but can't pass the background security check.

11. They pass the necessary checks, but fail the Final Review Panel.

12. They pass the FRP and are added to the Register, but withdraw their candidacies or decline two A-100 invitations.

13. They pass the FRP and are added to the Register with no intention of withdrawing or declining an offer, but they fail to receive an A-100 invitation before their 18-month eligibility window expires.

That's a lot of things that can go wrong. I would love to see some statistics on how many people tend to be eliminated at each stage. Reading the various FS resources (the State pages, the Yahoo boards, other online forums), it makes it seem like the pass rate for each of these steps is super high. But it's really a self-selecting sample. People who fail tend to avoid sharing their experiences. And besides, it is a bit embarrassing to admit that you bombed the FSOT or came "thiiiiis close" to passing the OA when there are five other people who are beaming with excitement.

I guess the point of this post is simple: If you want to become an FSO, make sure you keep living your life the way you are now while you go through the process. There are so many pitfalls involved with this (very long) process that becoming a diplomat should never be your Plan A. And if you do embark on this journey, but fall a little bit short, don't be so hard on yourself. About 99% of us can relate!