GREETINGS TO ALL FORMER, SERVING AND FUTURE ARMY FAOs, AS WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY INTO THE NEXT MILLENIUM! The year 1999 promises to be an auspicious one for FA 48. As testimony thereof, I'd like to share an announcement of good news with you. At the same time, I have an additional item for which I'd like to ask your assistance.
FY 98 COLONELS' selection board analysis
TOPIC: FY 98 Promotion List for Colonel, Army Competitive Category. STATUS: The FY 98 FAO COL primary zone selection rate was 50.9% compared to the Army average of 42.3%; 8.6% above the Army average. The total number of FAOs selected was 6 of 78 AZ, 26 of 51 PZ. No FAOs were selected below zone for promotion. Directed floors by Area of Concentration (AOC) were: 48B (Latin America) - 8, 48C (Europe) - 8, 48G (Middle East/North Africa) - 3, 48H (Northeast Asia) - 2, 48I (Southeast Asia) - 2 and 48J (Africa, South of Sahara) - 3. Directed goals were: 48D (South Asia) - 1, 48E (Eurasia) - 1 and 48F (China) - 1. All floors were met as were the goals for 48E and 48F. Over the previous past nine years, starting with YG 68, the FAO selection rate in the PZ to COL has averaged 4.9% below the Army average. In light of this, the FAO selection rate for FY 98 represents a significant turn- around.
An examination of the ORBs of the selected officers revealed that 59% were from YG 77. 41% were former Bn Cdrs and 19% had attained MEL-1. Especially gratifying to observe was that 47% of the officers had attended some type of FAO In-Country Training and 91% had served previously in two or more FA48 utilization tours.
The above results represent good news from a number of perspectives. First, they indicate the Qualification Verification Review (QVR) Board is functioning properly by determining those FAOs eligible for promotion according to DA PAM 600-3 criteria. Secondly, the Army is sending the signal that it intends to recognize FAO contributions by promoting FAOs at or above the Army average. Lastly, I regard these results as an opportune stepping stone as we begin our transition from OPMS 2 to OPMS XXI. Congratulations to our newest cohort of FAO Colonels!
OPMS XXI POSITION RE-CODING
Even most non-AG types know that proper coding of TDA/TOE positions impacts on position fill. But many are not aware that these codes also have consequences on how the force is trained. If the FAO positions on your unit's TDA/TOE are coded improperly, i.e., language or Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) codes missing, wrong AOC and/or grade indicated, etc., a number of serious errors can occur. Additionally, there may be positions that by the nature of their duties should be coded as 48 jobs, and are not. These errors can reduce our FAO language training slots, reduce funds for ACS, "grow" a population of FAOs that doesn't meet Army requirements and generally wreak havoc with FAO personnel management. In short, we request your assistance.
The items to look for in your TDA/TOE position coding:
(1) Is the position coded correctly, by regional area of concentration? (2) Does the position carry a language code? Remember: the Army gives us language training quotas based on these requirements. (3) Is the position Army Education Requirements System (AERS) validated? A key item as well, because it determines whether FAO gets enough graduate school quotas to train our force. (4) Are there positions within the MACOM that should be coded FAO?
Every MACOM has qualified personnel who monitor position coding, but a "second set of eyes", especially those eyes that have FAO interests foremost in mind, can assist immensely. What can you do if you discover errors?
(1) Work with your unit personnel manager to make the necessary fixes. (2) Fight to keep your personnel manager from recoding a position out of FAO so that the unit can get a quick fill. Under OPMS XXI we should have plenty of inventory to fill requirements. (3) Search hard for O-4 positions within your command for positions that should be coded as FAO. We are still short of authorizations at the O-4 level. Notify us if you find such positons on your TOE or TDA.
Working together we can correct these problems and improve our program!
STRAGEGIC SCOUTS!