FOREIGN AREA OFFICERS:
FULL-TRACKING NOW A VIABLE CAREER

by John B. Haseman, Colonel (ret)

Single-tracked Foreign Area Officers. For years the army personnel management system insisted this was not a possible career choice and encouraged personnel assignment officers to insure that Foreign Area Officers shuttled back and forth between their basic branch and their functional specialty. The wise officer generally followed that guidance in order to maximize promotion potential. But now the new army personnel system has made single-tracking as a FAO a distinctly possible career choice. The change in policy will provide the army with a highly educated and informed corps of regional experts, and it is preaching to the choir to praise this important decision.

I was one of the few Foreign Area Officers to single-track as a FAO under the "old" system. For the final 20 years of my 30-year career I had only FAO or school assignments. This resulted in a tremendously interesting and rewarding career, and I made it to O6 in the process. I thought that FAOs who are now contemplating the potential of a single-track FAO career pattern might find my experience helpful as far as the possible mix of assignments that a regional specialization career can bring.

I present this summary not as an "I love me" experience, but as an illustration of what a long (20 years or so) FAO career can mean in terms of assignments, professional education, and career rewards and challenges. Timing and luck are important because slots change, people extend or curtail their overseas tours of duty, and world events influence -- and mandate -- career choices. But perhaps captains and majors in particular would find the career possibilities interesting.

My career was unique. I know of no others who had quite the same mix of assignments and experiences as I. Remember that the period from 1975 to 1995 was a period in which personnel policy "required" duty in basic branch assignments as part of a full career pattern. Yet the times, and the circumstances, allowed me to continuously request, and receive, FAO assignments. Part of this was because my branch -- Military Intelligence -- did not begrudge my detail to FAO assignments because the mix of MI and FAO was a good fit. This compatibility might not exist in other situations, particularly for combat arms officers. Nonetheless it was possible for me, and may well be possible for you, to have a successful 20- or 30-year career by primarily single-tracking in FAO assignments.

Here's how my career went.

First off, I became a FAO in an unusual way. My interest in Southeast Asia began as a college student and was cemented in stone during two combat assignments in Vietnam. I fell in love with Southeast Asia despite the circumstances of the war, and in particular was attracted to the challenges typified in my second Vietnam assignment as a district-level advisor.

After the Vietnam War I went to Thai language school in 1973 and then to an MI assignment in Thailand. It was at that point, in 1974, that I found out about the FAO Program. I applied while a captain in Bangkok, and the army personnel system responded quickly. They determined that I had already been language trained (Thai), had a masters degree (which I had earned on my own), and was in an "in-country" assignment. I was instantly blessed as a fully-qualified Thai FAO. (Note: The original individual country FAO codes for Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines were later consolidated into the Southeast Asia specialty code.) No special graduate degree program. No in-country training. No foreign staff college. I became an instant FAO. That part of my career experience is unlikely to be repeated today!

Following my Thailand assignment I returned to CONUS to prepare to attend Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. The assignments folks were kind enough to position me in advance by assigning me to a FAO billet as a war-gamer at the Combined Arms Center. Along the way I was promoted to major. At the start of my CGSC year I asked to sponsor a foreign student officer from Southeast Asia, and was paired with an Indonesian officer. When assignment request time came I asked to go back to Thailand. The assignments officer's response was, "There are no slots there, but we do have a spot in Indonesia, but you'll have to go back to language school." Of course! Throw me in that briar patch! I spent a great year at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, mostly in a one-on-one mode with three language teachers. That began my career-long affiliation with Indonesia.

My first FAO assignment in Jakarta (1978-1981) was to the security assistance organization there, the Defense Liaison Group (now the Office of the Military Attaché for Defense Programs). I spent two years managing the International Military Education and Training (IMET) Program, during which I sent more than 500 Indonesian officers to US military schools. That period laid the foundation for an extensive network of friends that served me well in later assignments in Jakarta. Then I extended my assignment for a third year in order to become the Army Division Chief (an O-5 slot). The request was approved "on the come", and fortunately my selection for lieutenant colonel came shortly after I began the job. My final year was spent managing and coordinating foreign military sales, delivery of equipment, and overseeing army training and schooling for Indonesian officers going to the US.

Reassignment to CONUS took me back to a FAO billet at Fort Leavenworth as Activities Officer for all foreign students at CGSC. I planned to spend three years at Fort Leavenworth, so I bought a house and settled in to my assignment working with the dozens of foreign officers attending CGSC.

Less than six months later I got a call from the FAO assignments officer asking "Did you really mean it when you said you would go back to Asia at any time?" Well, yes, I meant it, and, surprise, they wanted me to go back after less than a year in CONUS. Instead of three settled years I got 11 months.

This was one of those coincidences where good luck and timing -- as well as my willing availability -- all worked. It seems that the officer selected for a position was deemed unacceptable by the host country military, based on prior experience with him. This is an important lesson: assignments can, and are, influenced by the host country. I was asked to be the Assistant Army Attaché, a billet that required both a FAO and fixed-wing pilot qualification -- the Jakarta Defense Attaché Office is one of several with a C-12 aircraft. But because of the short-notice assignment, the Defense Attaché (DATT) was told he could have a pilot or a FAO but not an officer with both qualifications. Presented with potential candidates in both specialties, the DATT chose to have a FAO and get by with one less pilot in the military community. That's how I got back to Jakarta.

This illustrates another important factor. I did not know personally the Defense Attaché who picked me, and he did not know me. He had the cold facts of my career background to look at. But he also had anecdotal references from many people who knew me personally -- the assignments officer, people on the embassy staff with whom I had previously worked, and senior officers in the Indonesian armed forces who also knew me from my three years in Jakarta. The reputation you build along the way DOES stay with you, and fortunately for me I had established myself as a professional and others had confidence in me. So off I went to Jakarta again (1982-1985) for my first of an eventual three assignments in the Defense Attaché System (DAS).

I had a great time in my first attaché assignment. Contacts I had made as young captains were now colonels and brigadier generals so I had good access to senior Indonesian military officers. I loved Indonesia, with its multi-cultural, multi-ethnic population and the most beautiful scenery in Southeast Asia. In my three years I traveled extensively, and had three very successful years in the attaché business. In the career advancement side, I applied for and was approved to begin the two-year Army War College correspondence studies program -- a key professional education requirement for promotion to colonel. (The selection process is different now, but the importance of AWC has not changed. You CAN take it by correspondence and complete successfully with resident students later on.) I completed that course during the summer of my return to the U.S.

I returned to CONUS in 1985 and was assigned to the "obligatory" assignment in the Pentagon. I became the senior Southeast Asia Analyst in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (now Deputy Chief of Staff -- DCSINT) -- a FAO billet, not an MI slot. My time in ACSI benefitted again from fortuitous timing. In 1985 the start of the "People Power" movement in the Philippines brought that country to the front pages of the world's newspapers -- and to a high priority for the Army Staff. For many months I was the Army point of contact for intelligence and analysis on the situation in the Philippines. I coordinated papers throughout the intelligence community. More importantly, I spent many hours briefing my bosses within ACSI as well as the ACSI himself, as well as others on the Army staff. I got a lot of "face time" with the Army Chief of Staff and Vice Chief, and accompanied the Chief of Staff on a quiet visit of encouragement to his Philippine counterpart.

About the time that the Philippine situation resolved itself I started reading the O6 FAO vacancy list. This was 1985-86, and I confirmed with the FAO and DAS personnel offices that the Defense Attaché billet in Jakarta would come open in 1990. Hoping to be promoted to Colonel, I wanted my career arranged to be available for that assignment. But by happy coincidence (remember, timing is important) I also found out that there was a vacancy in 1987 for the Defense Attaché billet in Burma, and no candidate had surfaced. I told the assignments folks that I wanted that job, because the timing was such that I could go to Burmese language school, agree in advance to a three year assignment in Burma instead of the required two years, and then transition directly to the DATT assignment in Jakarta.

The assignments officers agreed that it was a good fit. But there were several challenges to be overcome. First I had to be selected for promotion to colonel. Second, I had to be released from my army staff job "ahead of term" -- in other words, get out of the Pentagon after only one year on the army staff. I took my request to my boss, the ACSI. I will always be grateful to General Sidney ("Tom") Weinstein for his perceptive understanding. After looking me straight in the eyes and asking "is this what you really want?", I assured him that I had given it a lot of thought, and wanted to pursue a career in the attaché system. He approved my release from the army staff and I entered Burmese language training at the State Department -- studying my third Southeast Asian language. And I was selected for promotion to Colonel. And off I went to Burma.

I wish I could say that my three years as Defense Attaché in Burma (1987-1990) was a wonderful assignment. Burma itself is a wonderful country, with friendly, gracious people and a fascinating culture and history. Unfortunately it is afflicted with one of the world's must ruthless military dictatorships, the "counterparts" with whom I interacted as a major part of my duties as Defense Attaché.

After experiencing the inspiring period of pro-democracy demonstrations, which brought literally millions of Burmese people past the front of our Embassy, we also had to experience the brutal repression of those demonstrations. This is where I learned the hard lesson that not every government is nice, not every government subscribes to American principles, and dealing with such governments and living in such an environment is tough duty. There are many such countries remaining in the world today and there are Defense Attaché Offices in many of them. Duty in such places is stressful. That is part of the FAO's career and lifestyle. I spent two of my three years in Burma as a front-line critic of the Burmese military, in accordance with U.S. policy (and my own conscience) and at the direction of and in total agreement with the courageous and able U.S. Ambassador to Burma.

My assignment in Burma was a tremendous challenge, one that I enjoyed both for knowing the people of Burma and for the privilege of serving on the front line of American foreign policy. But I didn't enjoy the Burmese army rifles pointed inside my car window, or the tank guns leveled at our embassy staff convoy. I'm glad we only had to do one evacuation of Embassy families, and that the really dangerous period was only three months long. What you do on duty lives after you too -- I have been persona non grata in Burma for much of the time since the end of my assignment there. That means it has been difficult to return as a tourist to visit the people and places I came to like so much.

The career plan I established for myself worked out just fine. In 1990 I transferred directly from Burma to Indonesia, and began a four-year period as Defense Attaché in Jakarta. This was undoubtedly the high point of my career. All of the friendships formed during my first two assignments in Indonesia came to fruition. Officers I had met as young captains and majors were now the senior leaders of the Indonesian armed forces. Our friendship, based on mutual trust and understanding forged during years of personal contact, gave me an unusual degree of access to the leadership of the country.

The Indonesia military played a major role in government then, and still does today. This meant that I became the Embassy's point man on a variety of issues, military and non-military. Human rights, labor rights, hydrology, and medical research became as important to my daily work plan as the more traditional components of attaché duty. My prior experience in Indonesia made me an important part of the Country Team's deliberations on policy recommendations and implementation. It was the high point of my military career.

I left Jakarta in 1994 for a final six months at Fort Leavenworth, and retired in 1995. In my retirement in western Colorado I spent much of my time writing for publication -- on Indonesia and Southeast Asia -- and doing the occasional consultation project on the region. I travel back to Asia at least three or four times a year and I have maintained my friendships and contacts in Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries in the region. In effect I am a true "retired FAO". My interest in the region has not ceased with my retirement. From time to time I return to Washington for short consultations on Indonesia with our government agencies, and I actively follow political-military developments in Indonesia and the region.

I had a full and rewarding career, 20 years of it single-tracking as a Southeast Asia FAO, and I would not have changed a bit of it. Admittedly, luck and timing were important to my career pattern. But the important thing is that I worked to influence the luck and timing by taking an active role in managing my career.

The assignments I had will occur in most FAO career patterns today. Overseas, I served in both security assistance and attaché billets. In CONUS I was assigned to a major command (Leavenworth) and the army education system (also Leavenworth) as well as the army staff. I fitted in professional military education along the way. The one career stop I missed, which is important in FAO career progression, is assignment to the regional major command or army component -- in my case, Pacific Command and US Army Pacific. I strongly recommend assignment to the major command in the region of your specialization because it provides the world view of policy and programs in which you become involved in your in-country assignments.

To summarize, here are some of my "lessons learned" that I commend to you as you plan your own FAO career.

1. You must take an active role in planning and managing your own career. Find out what jobs are available for that next assignment, and the "next-next" one. Stay informed on what future career opportunities may be available to you. Be a chess player -- plan your career several moves in advance. Your personnel assignments officers will appreciate your participation in the process and help all they can to make it work.

2. The personal and professional reputation you establish in both duty and off-duty performance along your career path will be key to your success. Your work with fellow military personnel is only part of it. The civilians you will work with in embassy assignments abroad will also become important as "the word" about you spreads. Also important is "the word" among the host country military officers with whom you work. Remember the negative example of that unfortunate guy whose "unsuitability" created the vacancy that made it possible for me to go back to Jakarta even though I was not a pilot. Work hard and make sure that "the word" about you is positive, professional, knowledgeable, adaptable, and oriented toward multi-agency and international team play.

3. Timing is important. So is luck. Sometimes they work for you and sometimes they don't. Your challenge is to give luck and timing the best possible chance to work on your behalf.

4. Duty locations that were terrific good fun as a captain or major might not seem so attractive when you are a lieutenant colonel or colonel. Your family has priorities. So does the army. Unfortunately, when as an O5 or O6 you are asked to take a job in the proverbial Timbuktu's of the world it might not be the right time for you and your family. You might be forced to choose early retirement because of your family situation. Think about this when you plan your career. It was not a problem for me because I'm a life-long bachelor. I doubt if there are many like me still out there today.

5. Foreign Area Officer duty is a fantastic experience. The overseas assignments in particular place you at a high level of policy determination and implementation. You work with the top levels of the host country armed forces. You are also working in the proverbial goldfish bowl, where everything you say and do is widely observed. It is important that you give this the attention it deserves.

6. Finally, both you and your family unit must be strong. Overseas assignments are not always comfortable, healthy, or enjoyable. There are stresses and temptations that can play heavily on you and your family. My advice here is simple: don't go if it won't work for you and your family. And if you do go, be absolutely straight when it comes to the government's money, the alcohol that flows at social events, and the other temptations that might come your way. If you stray you WILL get caught, sooner or later.

7. Be professional in everything you do, and you will have a terrific time as a "full time FAO."

BOX #1

A 20-YEAR FAO CAREER, CHRONOLOGY Language School (prior to FAO status) 1 year Major Command (TRADOC) 1 year Professional military education (CGSC) 1 year Language School
1 year Security Assistance
3 years Major Command (TRADOC)
1 year Defense Attaché System
3 years (AWC by corresponding studies) Army Staff
1 year Language School
1 year Defense Attaché System
7 years

BOX #2

A 20-YEAR FAO CAREER SUMMARY

Defense Attaché System

10 years Security Assistance
3 years Language School
3 years* Major Command (TRADOC)
2 years Army Staff
1 year Professional military education
1 year
(CGSC- plus AWC by correspondence)

* First language school before FAO designation

1999, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org