GREETINGS TO FAOs WORLD-WIDE!
The late Spring/early Summer period is normally a busy time for the Proponent. Accession letters and questionnaires for the newest year group, In-Country Training (ICT) interviews and budget briefings for those going overseas, preparation of briefings for the June Foreign Area Officer Course (FAOC), etc., etc. Add to this a couple of new and unique events like the opening of new ICT sites, coordination for OPMS XXI initiatives, and the excitement involving Career Field Designation (CFD) and you have a diverse palette that is keeping our crew gainfully employed. Although a number of these items are still in the "working phase", allow me to address each of these areas with a few comments that may clarify points of confusion.
NEW ACCESSIONS
Questionnaires have been sent to Year Group 93 officers being accessed as candidates for the FAO Functional Area. Key to note here is the word "candidate". From the time of accession to the time training begins, the population of accessed candidates will shrink somewhat, as the population is culled to match training starts that are driven by Army requirements. If you're being accessed and have preferences for being assigned a particular Area of Concentration (AOC), build your case with any additional items you feel make you more qualified. Include Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT),score(s) for foreign language(s), time spent in the region, undergraduate studies that were weighted towards the respective region, etc. ONE MORE PIECE OF ADVICE: We'd like to see FAOs get their first choice, but some will understandably have to be given their second, third, or even their fourth. GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO YOUR SECOND AND THIRD CHOICES! Above all, don't nurture an attitude that is closed to anything but your first choice. Following the crowd is not always the best course of action. FAO promotions to 0-6 this year were above the Army average, but some of the shortage AOCs had selection rates even higher than the FAO average.
NEW ICT SITES
We're currently working to place ICT trainees into new sites in Slovakia, Estonia, Ethiopia and Morocco, in addition to a new site we've recently opened in Senegal. The Defense Attachés/Army Attachés in the respective countries have completed the yeoman's work required to overcome the bureaucratic and logistical hurdles. The result will be a more diverse opportunity for 48s going to ICT.
CAREER FIELD DESIGNATION
The year 2000 will see some major changes in the Officer Personnel Management System (OPMS) and particularly in the way FAOs are managed. We're convinced OPMS XXI will add stability and focus to the management of FAOs. It should also clarify the criteria for FAO selections and promotions. A necessary first step in the process has been the CFD board for YG's 80 & 86. The results from this board have recently been released. Two observations:
The above remarks probably offer little consolation to those smaller percentages that did not receive their first choices, but speaks well for the process as a whole. From the proponent perspective, there were concerns with some of the shortage branches (MI, SC) that were compelled to "hold more tightly" to their personnel than some of the other branches. To any FAOs that were asking for Ops Spt and designated Ops, I'd offer tie following advice:
FOREIGN AREA OFFICER COURSE (FAOC) 99-2
The FAO Proponent was in Monterey during 07-11 JUN speaking to the group of FAOs currently assigned to the Defense Language Institute (DLI). The purpose of this program is to familiarize the FAOs on the roles, duties and career development objectives of serving FAOs. Our experience in the past has been that this activity is an interesting and rewarding experience for the students and briefers as well. In this regard, FAOC 99-2 was no exception.
In closing, I'd like to pass on our Collective thanks to those with whom we've been in contact, either per telephone, fax or email. We appreciate your interest and enjoy hearing Your. comments and suggestions for improving our program. Stay In touch and continue to be our best ambassadors!
STRATEGIC SCOUTS!