Photo By Jason Cutshaw | Capt. Anthony J. Rifaat, space operations officer with 2nd Space Company, 1st Space...... read more read more
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WEST POINT, N.Y. – Team members from across the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command recruited future leaders for Army space’s Functional Area 40 space operations officers during the U.S. Military Academy’s Branch Week, Sept. 6-8.
Branch Week offers cadets the chance to explore career options by learning about the Army’s branches and functional areas. For those representing the FA40 team, Branch Week gave them time to explain the importance of Army space as well as identify cadets interested in becoming space operations officers.
“Branch Week is incredibly important for Army space,” said Col. Donald K. Brooks, USASMDC’s Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence commandant. “It is important for us to begin educating and informing future leaders in the Army about our functional area, and soon to be Space Branch. Space is a critical component to multidomain operations and makes us much more effective and efficient in our ability to shoot, move and communicate.”
He said many cadets and Army officers are not aware of the leadership and operational opportunities available to them in the space operations career field.
“I am super proud of the team as they engage the cadets as well as other officers on the importance of Army space operations,” Brooks said. “The things our young men and women are thinking about today and the level of questions they are asking, I am truly in awe. I am incredibly enthralled by the caliber of cadets the academy is producing and look forward to their future.”
The command’s Army Space Personnel Development Office manages the FA40 Assured Functional Area Transfer program, which gives Army officers with science, technical engineering and mathematics degrees the opportunity to become FA40s early in their career through a competitive selection process while in their senior year of college. Cadets from ROTC programs as well as from West Point can apply.
Stephen Murphy, ASPDO director, said ensuring continued space support means having the right people in the right jobs at the right time is a goal of the AFAT program.
“Branch Week gets better each year,” Murphy said. “We are here to let cadets know how ASPDO supports space operations officers in the Army. Branch Week is a great opportunity for us to get in touch with future leaders and let them know more about their career options.”
To identify applicants, ASPDO participates in events like Branch Week, advanced camps and virtual branch orientations. Team members engaged with approximately 150 cadets during the three-day West Point event.
Capt. Christopher Tatsuoka, space control planner with 2nd Space Company, 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, at Fort Carson, Colorado, explained what cadets need to do to become Army space operations officers, and explained that operational experience sets FA40s apart. He said the experience gained at the platoon leader and company level is invaluable as they take operational knowledge and integrate it into Army space operations.
“We want to educate the cadets here on what the space functional area is and specifically how space operations are a vitally important warfighting element of the joint and Army fight,” Tatsuoka said. “We are having really interesting conversations with cadets on how space is within Army units, how we integrate space operationally, what research and development roles exist for space operations officers and how we are dispersed throughout the Army and across the joint force as space operators.
“The cadets have been extremely interested in Army space,” he added. “Branch Week is a good way to keep the cadets looking to the future, and for us to be here hopefully will keep their minds on space operations.”
Another FA40 said those who opt-in for the AFAT program also have the choice to stay with their original branch if they love it. That is one of the best things about the program because it gives cadets the option.
“It is really important to know that AFAT can secure a career opportunity that a cadet may want, but isn’t available yet,” said Capt. Kristin Bruce, chief space integrator with the Special Warfare Center at Fort Liberty, N.C. “With AFAT, they can secure a space operations billet for down the road, and do that before ever going active duty. It is a win-win for the Army and the future leader because if they love their basic branch they can continue on that path, but if not they already have another option with AFAT.
“AFAT is working really well and it gives these future leaders the freedom to commit now and plan for it, but also the option to allow life to happen,” she added. “People who are really passionate about their careers are always going to be your best performers, so you want to get people who are interested in and want to do their jobs. If you are passionate about space operations, we want you.”
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2023 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 453040 |
| Location: | WEST POINT, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 418 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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