A-100: Day One

At last, we begin!

The purpose of the first day is to clear away as much bureaucracy as possible. This means filling out forms, getting our ID badges, and cramming us with an overwhelming amount of information about health plans, retirement plans, how not to leak classified information etc.

Observations on the latest A-100 class

Size: Roughly 45 people. Much smaller than most A-100 classes, which are usually between 80-100. Budget cuts, sequestration, etc.

Demographics: Mostly white. A fairly even split between men and women. Age tends towards late 20s/early 30a, but there are some mid-career people who are older.

Previous careers: Some lawyers, administrators, a few lucky recent college grads. MANY people who are transferring from another branch of government service, such as the military or State Department Civil Service. 

Included in the security brieifing were some notes on proper use of social media. As such, here are a few things you will not see on this blog:

- Criticism of US policy or officials
- Interior photos of embassies or other government buildings
- Photos and identifying information of USG officials (except maybe ambassadors)
- Identifying information about me. Yes, obviously some of you know who I am, but I don't need to make things easy.

Fear not; I'll still find a way to make this interesting.

Onwards and upwards!