Foreign Area Officer Program chooses 57 new cadre

Photo By Kat Bailey | The Air Force maximizes its ability to build partnerships with allied and coalition partners with the Foreign Area Officer program. The FAO program is a force development initiative intended to create a cadre of officers with in-depth regional expertise, and just added 54 new officers for 2018. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Kat Bailey)  

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, TX, UNITED STATES

02.14.2018

Story by Kat Bailey 

Air Force's Personnel Center

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – The Air Force has selected 57 new foreign area officers--46 captains and 11 majors--to join its Foreign Area Officer Program.
Managed by the Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the FAO program is a force development initiative intended to create a cadre of officers with in-depth regional expertise.
“The FAO program provides officers who have between seven and 10 years of commissioned service with an opportunity to develop international insight, foreign language proficiency and cultural understanding,” said Lt. Col. Katie Tanner, International Affairs Assignments chief at the Air Force’s Personnel Center.
FAOs alternate assignments between their primary career fields and international, political-military focused positions.
“Their in-depth international and regional experience and professional-level language skills, combined with existing operational skills, maximize the Air Force’s ability to build partnerships with allied and coalition partners,” Tanner said.
AFPC has scheduled a webinar for the new FAO-selects on Feb. 12, at 9 a.m. CST, titled “FAO Orientation Meeting,” which will be hosted on Defense Collaboration Services.
Click here for the selection list. Prior to posting the list, the Air Force’s Personnel Center provided senior raters with advanced knowledge of their Airmen’s selection to allow appropriate notification.
For more information about Air Force personnel programs, visit myPers. Eligible individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions.
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• Date Taken: 02.14.2018
• Date Posted: 02.14.2018 12:44
• Story ID: 266023
• Location: JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, TX, US