FAOs in the 21st Century

by Captain Joseph E. Pilcus, III, USAF

During the past two years, the USAF's FAO Proponent Branch has fielded several thousand phone calls, boarded more than a thousand applicants, and awarded the FAO AFSC to several hundred officers. Not bad for an office of six folks . . .six highly committed functional resource managers. While the program is still in its infancy, we expect the program to live a long and productive life.

So, what does the future hold for our intrepid young FAOs? Akin to Attaches, one conjures images of James Bond traipsing off to a cocktail hour at an embassy or meeting with the KGB agent in a darkened alley. In reality, the FAO will become an integral part of our force in the next century--a strange admixture of diplomacy, core competency, language expertise, and area studies knowledge. Tomorrow's FAOs will forge lasting ties with our allies, while simultaneously serving regional commanders as the in-country expert.

Recently, USAFE/CC Gen John Jumper remarked that the Air Force was in nearly every country in the world. That's a significant statement. We're not at war, though we're hardly at peace. Policies, people, and programs will change over time. Where our military and civilian leaders take us into the 21st century is still unclear. But, if the last 10 years is any guide to predict the next decade, we can safely assume that we'll continue to provide aid and assistance, conduct humanitarian efforts, and keep the bad guys at bay. To do any of these without the use of highly qualified and trained FAOs is unwise, unproductive, and unreflective.

The next century holds many opportunities for aspiring FAOs. The world is a dynamic stage upon which we behold the global actors. As a FAO, one develops an insight into the actors' motives, an appreciation for the executive-level decisions, and a near-absolute understanding of the area due to diligent research and observation. The FAO will stand apart from the other members of the United States Air Force. The FAO will operate as an internationalist writ large.

What's new?

It's December in D.C., and we're starting to examine the latest applications for the next FAO Board. While smaller than our previous boards, we hope to award the AFSC to another 25-30 officers. The board will be held on 24 Jan 00. Interested officers should contact our office or check out our web site.

Y2K will see an expansion of the Language and Area Studies Immersion (LASI) Program. We'll offer more than 20 languages in more than 25 locations throughout the world. Based on our research and inputs from other organizations, we've added new languages to our already extensive repertoire.

In addition to the LASI Program, a number of language-proficient officers have asked where they can turn for assistance. In Y2K, we're examining the viability of a LASI II Program, aimed at our 2/2 -- 3/3 DLPT-level officers. Similar to the LASI Program in design, the LASI II Program will focus less on in-classroom language training, and more time in the classroom for courses in political science, history, and economics.

2000, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org