Career Field Designation -- What It Means To FAOs
Although we have been in the transition period for OPMS XXI for quite awhile now,
Career Field Designation (CFD) questions remain at the top of the list of inquiries we
field. Based on that, I felt it was appropriate to spend some time here addressing the
issue.
Facts
Under OPMS XXI, the new system for managing our officer corps to meet the
needs of the XXIst century, all officers are Career Field Designated after selection for
promotion to Major. The designation takes place as part of a follow-on board to the
promotion board. Officers are designated into one of four career fields and will,
normally, remain in that career field for the remainder of their careers serving in
assignments relating to their Functional Area. Prior to the board, officers indicate their
preference for CF designation via an Internet Web page. Personal choice, command
recommendation, special skills/training and needs of the Army drive the final board
decisions.
FAO Specifics
Those officers designated as Operations Support Career Field (OPS SPT CF),
Functional Area 48 (FA 48 FAO) will serve in FAO assignments from that point on.
There will be some number of "branch immaterial" assignments that will be filled by FA
48 officers. All CFs will do this. Serving in one of these positions will not negatively
affect your career (as long as you do not receive a sub-standard OER). FAOs should,
however, try to avoid consecutive assignments to immaterial positions. Seek out the
hard jobs and be the best FAO you can. Do what makes you happy -- just realize that
the career decisions you make now will affect you years down the road.
OPS SPT CF FAOs will compete for promotion against other officers in OPS SPT
CF. Senior Service College (SSC) seats will be allocated for each Functional Area
based on its percentage of the population of eligible officers. That means OPS SPT
FAOs will get dedicated seats and won't be competing against OPS CF officers for
selection. You can expect to see this begin with the release of the upcoming SSC list.
Up to 20% of a year group cohort of FAOs can be designated as OPS CF officers.
Those officers will retain their FA48 designation but will compete for promotion,
battalion/brigade command and SSC against other OPS CF officers -- NOT OPS SPT
CF FAOs. They can, but are not required to, serve in FAO positions. In any case, a
prudent OPS CF FAO who wants to retain the possibility of switching to OPS SPT down
the road should avoid "branch immaterial" positions and look for FAO assignments
instead. OPS CF FAOs can seek re-designation into OPS SPT CF but needs of the
Army and YG density will weigh heavily in that decision, especially by the time an officer
is selected for promotion to O6.
FAO Generalities
The most important thing to remember is that the Army is in the transition period of
moving into OPMS XXI. Each board yields issues and ideas on how to improve the
process and effects. Understand that knowing the facts about CF designation is critical
-- DON'T RELY ON RUMOR. Keep informed, stay positive and work hard. Look for the
hard jobs that are both personally and professionally rewarding. In that regard, the
Army has not changed.
New Program Managers On Board
The rotation of Regional Program Managers is underway here at DAMO-SSF. LTC
Rich Coon has already reported in and is getting settled into his position as the Asia
Program Manager. By the time this gets to the field, LTC Ben Reed will also be coming
on board as the Europe/Eurasia Program Manager. In the mean time, the other
managers have been doubling up to cover the world. Finally, LTC Plummer will leave in
August and LTC Grady will replace him as the Mid East/Africa Program Manager.
Keep In Touch
The best way to ensure the success and health of the FAO Program is for all of us
to be "proponents." Keep in touch with us here. Let us know your concerns and ideas.
2000, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield,
Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org
