USAF
FAO NOTES -- March 1999
As the Air Force's contribution to the FAO Journal, this article offers a brief update of the program's
current activities, including a discussion of several key initiatives.
Recently the Air Force FAO Program has focused on formalizing and integrating FAO support throughout
the entire Air Force. Currently, the primary emphasis is on three basic initiatives: outreach, formalizing the
FAO's role in the Expeditionary Air Force (EAF), and program management.
The AF FAO proponent office continues to seek ways to publicize the program to both potential FAOs,
and AF leadership. During the last month, roughly 3,000 copies of the program brochure were mailed to
senior leaders, base education offices, and the 147 AFROTC detachments. A second mailing is now in the
works. Articles describing the FAO program are scheduled to appear in Airman magazine and AF Policy
Digest. Negotiations are also on the table for AF Television News to do a segment on the program. To
better advertise the program, and provide up to date information to AF FAOs, the AF FAO web site has
been completely overhauled. The web site continues to be the primary publicity vehicle for the program.
Another forum for discussing the AF FAO program was the recent CORONA SOUTH '99. This
meeting of senior AF leadership sets the course for AF programs and policies. The FAO Proponent Office
assisted the USAFE commander in preparing a briefing on the FAO program for CORONA SOUTH '99.
The briefing not only acknowledges the FAO program, but focuses on the need for a broader program to
develop expeditionary language and area expertise skills across the Air Force.
With the growing trend towards an expeditionary AF, leadership has seen the potential role of the
FAO to support these missions. In order to formalize FAO's role in the EAF, the AF FAO proponent
office provided inputs to the Air Combat Command for inclusion in a directive on Aerospace
Expeditionary Force. FAO expertise will enhance deployment preparation in both of these areas by
orientating personnel to the political, economic, cultural, and military environment in which operations
occur.
As the program itself continues to take shape and grow, so too does the number of FAO qualified
officers. The second FAO selection panel recently chose 41 officers for the FAO AFSC from a field of 93
records. The next selection panel will convene mid-March 1999. The FAO proponent office still
continues to receive applications from top-notch officers from throughout the Air Force.
While there is still no formal AF training pipeline for FAOs, initiatives are being explored to provide AF
FAOs with opportunities for continued professional education. Both AFROTC and Professional
Continuing Education (PCE) slots are targeted for expansion to include FAO-related support.
Additionally, a proposed Area Studies Advanced Program (ASAP) will provide FAO's with the
opportunity for 4-6 weeks of travel and research in countries of their regional specialty.
In the months to come the FAO Proponent Office will continue to work on these and other issues
energetically in order to develop a FAO program that supports and enhances current and future aerospace
operations
1999, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org