The latest from the Army FAO Proponent
office
by LTC Vasilios Fotopoulos
Acting Chief, Strategic Leadership Division
The Army FAO program has never had so much attention and generated so much
interest as in the past year. Long recognized as the model Foreign Area Officer
program in the Department of Defense, the Army FAO program has proven its worth in
the contributions FAOs have made in the on-going Global War on Terror (GWOT).
CENTCOM has sought and filled its FAO requirements to over 170% of its
authorizations. Both in Iraq and Afghanistan FAOs provide valuable expertise in cultural
awareness, coalition liaison, advance linguistic skills, and much sought-after experience
in dealing with coalition forces and local populations.
Perhaps it is not a coincidence that a number of FAOs who have reached the
general officer ranks hold key leadership positions within the Army and the Combatant
Commands. These distinguished leaders, besides their noteworthy and long military
service in traditional leadership roles, have proven records as attaches, and military
advisers. They are proud to call themselves Foreign Area Officers. Their FAO expertise
could not have been put to better use than in the positions they currently hold. -- from
the CENTCOM Commander, to the PACOM J-5, to the Deputy Army G-2. In the Army
G-3, we are fortunate to have two general officers in the Directorate of Strategy, Plans,
and Policy -- the proponent of the Army's FAO program. MG Keith Dayton, who just
came on-board as the Director, G-35, and BG Kevin Ryan, who headed the Directorate
for the past several months and is now the Deputy Director, are both experienced and
distinguished FAOs. Perhaps the Army and DoD have seen the value of FAOs in the
senior leadership ranks and will ensure that FAOs permanently serve in a number of
key general officer positions.
The Department of Defense has also taken notice of FAOs and what they bring to
the fight. In an effort to more effectively manage and expand the FAO programs of all
Services, DoD is finalizing coordination on an updated DoD Directive 1315.17 (Service
Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Programs). This directive, when approved, will give DoD
greater oversight over the FAO programs, and seek to enhance the FAO capabilities of
all Services.
One of the three essential skills that all FAOs possess is language. Language
gives FAOs the ability not only to communicate but to live and function in the foreign
culture. DoD is raising the proficiency standard for all linguists and FAOs to 3/3/3. Army
FAOs routinely meet or exceed this standard by the time they complete in-country
training. Recently, Congress passed legislation authorizing the Services to give
incentive pay of up to $1,000 per month or $12,000 per year to each linguist who meets
language proficiency standards. Each Service was given discretion to implement the
program according to its own needs. Once implemented, the increased incentive pay
will go a long way in helping FAOs attain and maintain high standards in language
proficiency.
Finally, the Army now has an approved FAO vision -- a vision of what a FAO is,
what he does and what he represents. It captures the essence of the Amy FAO, the
Soldier-Statesman. The FAO vision is as follows: "Army Foreign Area Officers are
warriors who provide focused regional expertise to the joint warfighter. They possess
expert military knowledge of the region, advanced language skills, and a studied
cultural and political understanding, which enable them to increase success and reduce
risk across the full spectrum of operations from major combat to stability operations.
The operate decisively in uncertain environments, often independently, as a valuable
force multiplier to commanders and senior leaders from the tactical to the strategic
level. Above all, they are Soldiers."
2004, Foreign Area Officer Association
Herndon,
Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org