DS-157. Q14. Specialised skills including biological or chemical experience?

[July-lucky 0]

Hey everyone,

I dont know what to answer tothe following:

DS-157. Q.14.

Do you have specialised skills or training, including, firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological or chemical experience? If yes please explain.

The thing is I did my degree in chemistry and I dont know if this applies to me or not. Shall I say yes? Please let me know what your opinions are on this. Thanks very much.

[rodceasar 34]

It would be unfortunate it is delays your papers but I think you should certainly answer yes and explain. If they find out later, could cause problems so best to get it out of the way...

[RokNRich 7]

Disagree.

Big difference between a degree in Chemistry and specialized weapons training.......I wouldn't say anything unless you have relevant work experience in those fields......are you prior military ? If so, then maybe...but based on your degree alone, I wouldn't.

[Islapaz 41]

My fiance has a PhD in Organic Chemistry, I have the same doubts We have fill the paper, and we have explain his degree, we will see in 2 weeks what happen at the time of the interviw I would like to hear about others experiences.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Barring any better informed answers, it seems to me that the most conservative answer would be to indicate yes, and then in the explanation state your degree, and any work you have done using that degree.

This way, if it turns out that it's not what they "meant" you're still safe, and it's not the opposite - that it's exactly what they mean, and you've just lied about it.

There's a favorite saying around here, Read completely, interpret literally. Do you have experience or training in....chemistry? Yes. So, say so.

[July-lucky 0]

Thank you all. I think I will put down my degree and see what happens. Do you think it might delay the process? Keep your experiences and opinions coming.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hey everyone,

I dont know what to answer tothe following:

DS-157. Q.14.

Do you have specialised skills or training, including, firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological or chemical experience? If yes please explain.

The thing is I did my degree in chemistry and I dont know if this applies to me or not. Shall I say yes? Please let me know what your opinions are on this. Thanks very much.

Answer "Yes, BS degree in Chemistry, Oxford University" (or whatever the degree is) Being specific will be to your benefit. Concealing something will not be.

[July-lucky 0]

Thank you guys! I really dont want this to delay our process. It would really help if they clearly state what the question is intending instead of putting questions in our head. Never mind.

[July-lucky 0]

I am now more confused than ever. I was discussing thiswith my friend and she urged me to change my answer, her argument was the question specifically asks for a specialised skills or trainings, which

She doesnt thinks applies to me....grrrr

I hate being confused.

[JoannaV 174]

Maybe it would delay the application if you had experience in research on, say, biological weapons. But a biology degree with some chemistry? No. Stick to the truth and there will be no unnecessary problems.

[July-lucky 0]

Thank you.

Islapaz, please come here to update us about your experience once you have had your interview.

If anyone else have similar experience, please let us know as well. Many thanks to everyone that's contributed to this thread.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I have a degree in Biology & worked in a Chemistry lab at my university. I hadn't really thought about the question before (still waiting on NOA2), but I'm not sure that our training is exactly what they intended the question for. I guess technically we DO have that kind of training, but a simple undergrad degree doesn't qualify me for much, to be honest - I couldn't even get a job in a lab out of university so I went back to teacher's college.

So... I guess my answer wasn't really that helpful, but if it makes you feel any better, now I'm wondering too! haha

ESPECIALLY as a lay person, I would strongly discourage you from trying to interpret the "intent" of a question. Also, I would consider 4 years of college education in a subject to be specialization

Edited September 29, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[JoannaV 174]

Also, I would advise you to take a copy of your CV to the interview so that, if they ask, they can easily see what your subsequent work history is.

[coffeeannan 0]

any update?

[yailukmuu 26]

A degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry is not specialized (I'm not putting you down, I have a BS in Chemistry).

However if you did a Doctorate's thesis and experimentation on weaponization of Bacillis anthraxis (Anthrax)then you move into the realm of "specialized." That they would want to hear about, naturally, though "they" would already know, I'm betting.

As coffeeannan has asked, please update us...

Edited March 20, 2011 by yailukmuu