“It's clear that Allies and Partners are a center of gravity in our strategy. FAOs are national assets -- experienced warfighters who work across domains, theaters, and the spectrum of conflict, serving as a bridge between strategy and tactics at friction points across the globe.” – ADM Lisa Franchetti, CNO


Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) are joint force operators specializing in advancing U.S. military objectives by providing critical regional expertise. Their understanding of the human, diplomatic, and military factors in foreign theaters better prepares the United States for transregional, multi-domain crises. FAOs work to develop synchronized plans and implement operations that secure a superior geostrategic position for the U.S. joint force.

Within the Navy, the FAO Community (Designator 1710) is the sole group of professionals dedicated to this mission. They serve as naval diplomats, certified security cooperation professionals, and experts in regional political-military affairs, strategy, and policy across the fleet, joint force, and interagency. Entry into this community is limited to lateral transfers from officers with at least four years of commissioned service and a warfare qualification from their parent community. 

Lateral Transfer/Redesignation to FAO (1710)

Officers interested in redesignating to the FAO Community should visit the Lateral Transfer webpage for general information and procedures relative to lateral transfer/redesignation boards.


In addition to the standard Active Duty Lateral Transfer and Redesignation Board Guidance found above, FAO applications require the additional elements / eligibility items below:

1.  Minimum four years commissioned service. 
2.  Current overseas suitability screening for applicant and all dependents, showing world-wide assignability to CENTCOM (NSA Bahrain) standards, documented on NAVPERS 1300/16 'Report of Suitability For Overseas Assignments'.  Forms are valid for one year from the signature and no application will be considered without them. 
3.  TS/SCI clearance eligibility documented via SCI pre-screening interview from SSO.
4.  Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score 110 or higher. Lower DLAB scores require a waiver for consideration on a case-by-case basis.
5.  Undergraduate/Graduate Transcript.  Additionally, transcripts for any relevant graduate-level course-work. All officers without a regionally-focused postgraduate degree should be academically qualified for admission to the Naval Postgraduate School with a minimum of 2.60 undergraduate GPA. Lower GPAs require a waiver for consideration on a case-by-case basis. Recommend applying for an Academic Profile Code (APC).
6.  Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA).  PFA information, history to include Body Composition Assessment (BCA) and Physical Readiness Test (PRT) results, from the Navy Physical Readiness Information Management System (PRIMS).
7.  Personal Statement including ranked AOR preferences (see 'FAO Lateral Transfer Application Template' on lower right-hand side of this page for more information).
8.  FAO O-6 led interview coordinated by the FAO OCM after receipt of application.
 

For further information regarding the FAO community please contact the FAO Community Manager,  CDR Kimberly Manuel.

For information regarding the Reserve FAO community, please click here.