The dynamic and evolving global security environment challenges us to perform our mission under an expeditionary concept requiring rapid, world-wide deployment. To ensure our continued success in this environment, we need a cadre of Air Force professionals with the insight and skills to build effective relationships with our global partners. This international affairs expertise is key to our ability to sustain coalitions, pursue regional stability, and contribute to multi-national operations.
A review of the Air Force's Foreign Area Officer (FAO) program made it clear that a transformation was needed. Under the existing FAO program, officers have not been sufficiently developed or effectively managed to become foreign area experts and most have faced significant career progression hurdles for serving outside of their primary career specialty. The new International Affairs Specialist (IAS) program replaces the FAO program and deliberately develops (select, train, assign) officers with international affairs expertise in conjunction with their primary career specialty development track.
Under the new IAS program, select Air Force officers will be designated on an IAS secondary career path at the mid- career point and receive formal training and education with appropriate follow-on assignments on one of two development paths. Some will do this as a well-managed, career broadening opportunity to gain international political-military affairs experience -- the Pol-Mil Affairs Strategist; and for others this will be a more demanding developmental opportunity with multiple IAS assignments designed to create a true regional expert with professional language skills -- the Regional Affairs Strategist.
SAF/IA, as the functional manager for the IAS program, is leading a cross-functional team from across the Air Staff to implement this program. We are addressing key issues related to requirements, accessions, selection, training/education, assignments, and career progression. Among the top implementation issues are accomplishing a complete requirements scrub with the Combatant Commands and regional MAJCOMS, establishing IAS training/education program at the Intermediate PME-level, inclusion of IAS positions in assignment prioritization plans to ensure utilization, and creating an effective selection process to designate the right officers for this career path. The first IAS selection process will occur in Summer/Fall 2005 with these officers beginning their training in Summer 2006.
Our senior leaders are firmly behind this initiative and are essential to making this culture change a success. We are determined to develop these skills in our most competitive officers, effectively manage their career development and progression, and eliminate the misperception that this is a less than ideal career track. This much-needed cadre of international affairs experts will be a crucial force multiplier that significantly enhances our success as an Expeditionary Air Force.