Foreign Area Officer - FA48

For all those new FAOs of any Service - this is the how to book for you, especially those going to a Security Cooperation Officer billet. Advice for a US Security Cooperation Officer Serving In Africa. A sub-Saharan Africa US Army Foreign Area Officer describes his journey and learning experiences through a series of blog posts consolidated into this wonderful book. Andrus Chaney's experiences through security cooperation and security assistance activities as a security cooperation officer stationed out of a US embassy should be required reading for every new security cooperation officer coming out of training and heading to their first post overseas. From acronyms to planning a critical leader engagement to a chapter dedicated solely to developing a complete military capability package using the total package approach. Although centered around Africa, this book and its lessons fully apply to any new security cooperation officer beginning their journey at a US embassy. https://lnkd.in/gkDAVN3i

Just like clockwork, the final monthly inflation numbers came in and I've done my calculations for 2024 military retirees. There will be a pay inversion caused by the formula for COLAs for new retirees, but it will be much smaller than the 2022 extremes. January, February, and March 2024 retirees will receive a 2.5% COLA this December. April, May, and June 2024 retirees will receive a 1.4% COLA. July, August, and September 2024 retirees will receive a 0.2% COLA. October, November, and December 2024 retirees will receive 0.0% COLA. I also calculate that members who retired in 2023 or earlier will receive a 2.5% COLA this December. This means that 1 October 2023 and 1 March 2024 retirees will both receive a 2.5% this December for their first ever COLA even though the 1 October 2023 retirees will have been retired for 15 months by the time they get a COLA. In contrast, if the DoD were to use the Social Security formula for calculating the first COLA, those 1 March 2024 retirees would receive only 1.88% instead of 2.5%. Each year's 1 March retirees have an excellent chance at free chicken because of the first COLA formula. Bottom line this year? Once again, 1 July retirees continue to receive smaller pensions than 1 June retirees. An O-6 with 27 years of service who retired on 1 July will receive about $550 a year less than her peer who retired 30 days earlier…every year for the rest of her life. I’m not going to lose sleep about $550 a year, but the return of high inflation rates could make this a much bigger loss for future retirees. 2022 saw some O-8s lose out on $7,000 a year for life because they retired in July 2022 instead of 4 months earlier. The pay inversion can affect all new retirees regardless of rank or years of service. My paper explains the COLA trap and how to avoid it. TL,DR: Retire on 1 March or 1 June (which means your last day on active duty would be 28/29 Feb or 31 May).

You're face to face with a new GOFO that's never heard of FAOs. He wants to know how what you do and how he can best use your skills. What do you tell him? In this episode of the Foreign Area Officer we delve into the critical role of Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) with COL(R) Mike Burgoyne and LTC(R) Jim Marckwardt. Mike and Jim discuss their recent article ‘Five Foreign Area Officer Truths,’ published in Joint Forces Quarterly. Below are the 5 Truths, listen in to hear more. 1.⁠ ⁠FAOs Are Most Effective in the Gray Zone Between Peace and War 2.⁠ ⁠Networks Cannot Be Built After a Crisis Begins 3.⁠ ⁠FAOs Are Regional Experts, Not Generalists 4.⁠ ⁠Language and Culture Provide FAOs’ Unique Access 5. FAOs Are Raised by their Services but Operate in Joint and Interagency World Amazon: https://lnkd.in/ev_SEcT3 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gRNnWyN3 Podbean: https://lnkd.in/gRNnWyN3 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eZSVZMqw   

Join the Army FAO Association for our Fall Social Meetup Event - 24 Sep, 1800-2000, Marriot Marquis 901 Massachusetts Ave, Washington D.C. Dress: Informal. No need to register just show up and bring your spouse if you can.

Latest article, just out. I suspect this will resonate with many!

How has mentorship benefited you as a Foreign Area Officer? In this episode of The Foreign Area Officer Podcast, Brigadier General Brad Nicholson from the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama provides in-depth insights into the challenges and rewards of serving as a FAO, discusses the importance of mentorship, and offers guidance on navigating assignments, including dealing with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) challenges. The conversation also explores the evolving role of FAOs in global security contexts and the exciting future ahead for the FAO community. Amazon: https://lnkd.in/ev_SEcT3 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gRNnWyN3 Podbean: https://lnkd.in/gRNnWyN3 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eZSVZMqw

Here are some excellent opportunities to join the faculty at the Defense Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) Institute (DSI) and to teach/educate future SCO professionals. If you have experience in an embassy, consider applying! Competitive pay and a great mission!

Interesting discussion of peacekeeping and the UN mission in Mali with two senior Army Foreign Area Officers, Jonathan Drake and Thomas (TJ) Moffatt ! #FAO #FA48 #usarmy

Great opportunity for young FAOs:

On this Veterans Day weekend, this report from Melissa Boatwright and Sarah Roberts on Veteran Opportunities is eye opening! Despite representing 6% of the available workforce, many companies employ far fewer veterans, missing out on tremendous potential. Additionally, veteran hiring is clustered into several primary industries, job families or career types, and geographic areas, increasing the difficulty of pivoting to non-military adjacent work areas. Finally, veteran networks are often too veteran-centric to provide the kinds of network effects needed to make useful connections into the private sector. Full report worth reading!