FAO In-Country Training (ICT) Program
You made a career choice and decided to become a FAO. You want to be one of
the Army's experts on military, economic, social, cultural, psychological or political
issues of a country or region of the world. You want to be an attaché, security
assistance officer, politico-military staff officer, intelligence staff officer, liaison officer, or
politico-military instructor. You want to be one of the Army's "Soldier-Statesmen." You
have completed your language course at the Defense Language Institute and think you
can survive or possible even flourish linguistically in your target country. The
hypothetical is about to become reality as you prepare for the ICT portion of the FAO
training program.
Conducted in over 50 countries around the world and the capstone of the FAO
training program, ICT sites are selected and programs designed to immerse officers in
the language and culture of a specific country and region and to provide firsthand,
practical understanding of regional issues and reinforce language training, graduate
schooling, and military experiences.
Normally a 12-month accompanied tour, the basic ICT program includes
continuing language training, regional travel, contact with host nation military and
civilian officials, and formal host nation military and civilian schooling. Throughout the
ICT program, a senior FAO (Defense Attaché MIL Group Commander; or Chief,
Office of Defense Cooperation) will mentor you and together you will determine the
exact makeup of your ICT program. The guidance and supervision of this experienced
officer in the development and implementation of your ICT is crucial to the quality of the
program. Additionally, the personal and professional relationships you establish during
ICT will serve you well in future assignments.
Language fluency is an essential tool for all FAOs and improving proficiency is a
principal objective of ICT. Language training normally is accomplished by attendance
at a host nation school (civilian or military), the utilization of indigenous tutors and
immersion in the host culture.
Regional travel is designed to develop a thorough knowledge of the geography,
issues, peoples and cultures of the region and is coordinated with appropriate U.S.
Defense Attaché Offices (DAOs), U.S. Offices of Defense Cooperation (ODCs)
and U.S. Missions to arrange briefings and meetings that provide an introduction to the
local community.
Summary of FAO ICT objectives:
- Language Proficiency: Attain a professional level foreign language ability
through daily reading, listening, speaking and writing.
- Military: Know the service capabilities, present leadership, key military
contemporaries, operational concepts and force structure of host country forces; gain
familiarity with regional forces.
- Geography and Demography: Acquire a detailed appreciation for the major
physical and human features of the country and a general appreciation for the region.
- Economics: Gain firsthand knowledge of the local economic structure and the
key features of the regional economic system; understand the national demands placed
upon the economic system and how the local population views economic issues.
- Culture: Gain an in-depth understanding of social, ethnic, political, religious and
economic issues as perceived by the local populace.
- Politics and Foreign Affairs: Know in detail how the region/country functions,
officially and unofficially (who decides what and how), the mechanics of the
bureaucracy in actual practice, and the political leadership. Know the inter-relation of
countries in the region - sources of commonality and of friction. Understand
relationship with the U.S. and our Government's interests in the country and the
region.
- Interpersonal Skills/Contact: Gain the ability to use conversations, news reports,
visual observations and first/second person contacts to form a clear understanding of
the local/regional situation when integrated with other background data; develop
professional contacts with both military and civilian representatives in the host country
and the region.
- Country Team Structure and Operations: Understand the Country Team
structure, formal and informal lines of communication and basic organizational
responsibilities.
2000, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield,
Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org
