Army Notes

LTC(P) Ray Hodgkins

It is my great privilege to write to you all as the interim Chief of the Strategic Leadership Division (DAMO-SSF). COL Pete Brigham will be TDY for the next six months and has tasked me in his absence to continue to look out for the interests of FAOs serving around the world, while ensuring the Army's need for trained FAOs is satisfied. If you haven't taken a close look at what the Army is doing in terms of transformation and force stabilization, I highly recommend that you become familiar with both issues. These changes will have profound impact on the force as a whole, and as FAOs we need to be aware of what's going on.

As part of the Army's transformation process, HRC and the Army G1 are examining many fundamental facets of OPMS III, to include the FAD and CFD processes and functional area management, in general. This development holds the potential to significantly impact how FAOs are accessed, trained and utilized. Proponent and FAO Assignments are committed to actively participating in all such deliberations. Similarly, as the Army examines force structure changes, Proponent is seeking to ensure all such considerations take into account how FAOs can best contribute to the force. One timely issue involves the building of the modular force structures. At present, we feel that FAO force structure should be established down to the Unit of Employment (UEy) level and are working toward that end. In April the Proponent will participate in discussions exploring the UEy MTOE requirements. Again, one cannot stress enough that the transformation of the Army is a fast-moving train, and whether you are in school or in a US Embassy far removed from any military flagpoles, you need to keep abreast of these changes. As always, we will endeavor to get the word out regarding what the FAO Proponent does for the Army and for its serving FAOs.

2004, Foreign Area Officer Association
Herndon, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org