USMC FAO Notes
LtCol John May,
International Affairs Officer Program Coordinator
The USMC International Affairs Officer Program (IAOP) received favorable
review in the OSD-commissioned Defense Language Transformation Study. The
program was reported to be meeting requirements articulated by the service and
was in compliance with the DoD directives. Garnering special attention was the
unique aspect of the IAOP that created the Regional Affairs Officer (RAO)
designation to augment the USMC FAO population. This designation recognizes
the value of the regional expertise these officers bring to Ops and Plans billets on
high-level Marine, Joint, and Combined staffs that don't necessarily require a
foreign language capability. RAOs have been designated since 1999 and make
up roughly one fourth of the entire International Affairs Officer population.
In a previous edition of the Journal, it was reported that Capt Sullivan--on
ICT in Egypt--had requested and been granted an ICT extension to more fully
complete his education/training. The extension was subsequently canceled in
order to facilitate an assignment to forces deploying for OIF II. Capt Sullivan
joined the deploying MEF as part of the FAO cadre that had been requested to
augment the force, down to the tactical level. Assignment at the MEF level and
subordinate echelons represent a paradigm shift in the program and is a result of
lessons learned from OEF and OIF. This trend may be the clearest indicator of
the expanding roles and responsibilities for International Affairs Officers that has
been recommended by the SAIC study
In Apr, three Marines were selected to participate in the Olmsted
Scholarship Foundation's graduate study program; these officers will man sites in
Jordan, Vietnam, and Russia. Their language training and two years of foreign
postgraduate work will lead to a FAO designation via the experience track.
These particular sites were selected by the Foundation in close coordination with
HQMC to ensure that both the objectives of the Foundation and the Marine
Corps International Relations Plan were being effectively met.
The IAOP will participate in a curriculum review being conducted at the
Naval Postgraduate School in June. This will coincide with the Program's annual
3rd Quarter trip to Monterey to begin the assignment process for
International Affairs Officers completing training in FY 05. Efforts to identify
utilization tours for the RAOs as soon as possible in their program--
in order to provide greater focus to their research--continue; this practice
achieved mixed results in FY 04 with several officers receiving orders to billets
different than initially planned. All but one RAO graduating in June 04 have been
assigned to a validated utilization tours or have received a programmed
deferment. The IAOP will work this issue with MMOA through the next
assignment cycle.
The first of the FAOs selected in FY01 has completed ICT in Senegal; Capt
Avila returned to 7th Marine Regiment for a tour in his primary
MOS. The other "class of 01" ICT FAOs are scheduled to complete ICT by the
end of FY04: Major Ercolano in Japan, Major Finney in Brazil, Major Lucius in
Indonesia, Major Major McLaughlin in Croatia, Capt Rizner in Vietnam, Major
Rosser in Korea, Major Sbragia in China, and Major Thurman in Moscow.
Majors Karega and Logue completed language training this spring and will
man the ICT sites in Oman and Egypt. Other FAOs in training slated for standing
ICT in FY04-05 include: Major Connolly in China, Major Donahoe in Croatia,
Major Freeman in Turkey, Major Knapp in Republic of Philippines, Major
Middleton in Korea, Major Reas in Thailand, and Major Smith in Moscow.
Additionally, the program hopes to send Capt Cherry to stand up a site in
Cambodia
As always, the International Issues Branch (PLU), PP&O, HQMC welcomes
comments and suggestions regarding the administration of the IAOP. Please see
the FAO Proponent Page in this Journal for POC information.
2004, Foreign Area Officer Association
Herndon,
Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org