FA 30 Career Opportunities

FA 30 Qualification Course (QC)

Generally, FA 30 officers will receive initial IO training before they begin an FA 30 assignment. After selection into FA 30, officers will attend the USAIPO FA 30 QC at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The FA 30 QC is the sole credentialing course for FA 30 designated officers. The FA 30 QC develops FA 30 officers with the requisite competencies to serve successfully on staffs at a BCT through Corps HQ. FA 30 officer participation in other Army educational opportunities is based on duty performance and Army requirements (DA Pam 600-3, ch 20-3).

 

Intermediate-Level Education (ILE)

FA 30 officers will normally attend ILE in residence. By exception, the FA 30 Career Manager may schedule FA 30 officers to complete the ILE common core curriculum when operational requirements prevent attendance in residence. At a minimum, all FA 30 officers are expected to attend the ILE common core in residence. FA 30 officers that successfully complete the ILE common core course and the FA 30 QC are JPME 1 qualified (DA Pam 600-3, ch 20-3).   All officers are required to complete ILE prior to their 15th year of commissioned service (DA Pam 600-3, ch 3-6). 

 

Normally, FA 30 officers will complete at least one operational assignment in an FA 30 coded position before ILE attendance (DA Pam 600-3, ch 20-3). The Command and General Staff College Web site at http://www.cgsc.edu/ contains additional information about ILE.

 

NOTE: The new DA Pam 600-3 effective 1 FEB 2010 (pg 28) grants ILE equivalency at NPS if officers complete the Naval Distance Education Courses while attending NPS. In addition, they must complete the ILE Prep Course at Fort Leavenworth (P950) prior to attending NPS. This is a short two-week course.

 

 

 

Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)

Each year FA 30 officers who have completed the FA 30 QC and have completed an operational assignment are eligible to compete for a slot at NPS in Monterey, Calif. NPS is an 18-month long course where graduates receive a Master of Science in Joint Information Operations. The NPS Web site has additional information about their programs: http://www.nps.edu/. Graduates incur a utilization tour and Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) upon completion:

• Title 10, U.S. Code—Armed Forces; Subtitle A, Part III, Chapter 101, Sec 2005 states “The Secretary concerned shall determine the period of active duty to be served by any person for advanced education. . . .”
• DODDIR 1322.10 requires Secretaries of military departments ensure officers who have received a fully-funded or partially funded graduate education serve in return on active duty for a minimum of at least three years or three times the length of the program if the program was less than one year. Additional service obligation can be prescribed by the service.

 

NOTE: The new DA Pam 600-3 effective 1 FEB 2010 (page 28) grants ILE equivalency at NPS if officers complete the Naval Distance Education Courses while attending NPS. In addition, they must complete the two-week ILE Prep Course at Fort Leavenworth (P950) prior to attending NPS.

 

 

Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS)

High-achieving FA 30 officers who have completed the FA 30 QC and have completed an operational assignment can compete for the chance to attend a 10-12 month course at some high-quality schools (Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton). Each program results in an IO-related Masters Degree. Attendance is based on FA 30 job performance, FA 30 QC performance, GRE scores, and operational requirements. Graduates incur a utilization tour and Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) upon completion:

 

• Title 10, U.S. Code—Armed Forces; Subtitle A, Part III, Chapter 101, Sec 2005 states “The Secretary concerned shall determine the period of active duty to be served by any person for advanced education. . . .”
• DODDIR 1322.10 requires Secretaries of military departments ensure officers who have received a fully-funded or partially funded graduate education serve in return on active duty for a minimum of at least three years or three times the length of the program if the program was less than one year. Additional service obligation can be prescribed by the service.

 

Additional information is in the following references:

• AR 621-1, Training of Military Personnel at Civilian Institutions
• AR 621-108, Military Personnel Requirements for Civilian Education

 

The following link has additional information on the U.S. Army ACS Program:

http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Home/Benefit_Library/Federal_Benefits_Page
/Advanced_Civil_Schooling_(ACS).html

 

Training With Industry (TWI)

USAIPO developed a TWI program with three civilian firms--Starcom Media Vest in Chicago, Ill. (www.smvgroup.com/), Hill and Knowlton Group in Arlington, Va. (www.hillandknowlton.com/about), and Siemens AG in Iselin, N.J. (www.siemens.com).  FA 30 officers may compete to work at these firms for one year to learn more about their marketing initiatives and targeting methodology that will assist these FA 30 officers later in their career. The officers will incur a utilization tour.

 

The Web site has additional points of contact and links to the following references:

• Joint Ethics Regulation, DOD 5500.7-R
• AR 621-1, Training of Military Personnel at Civilian Institutions (provides information on TWI application procedures)
• AR 621-108, Military Personnel Requirements for Civilian Education

 

1st IO BN CMD Selection

Lieutenant colonels will have the opportunity to compete for command of 1st Battalion, 1st Information Operations Command per DA Pam 600-3, ch 20-3. This is not a DA selected command position. Eligible population is all MAJ/P thru LTC FA 30 officers that are eligible to PCS to Fort Belvoir. Eligible officers will be notified by email and notice will be posted on FA 30 HRC Web site. Officers must volunteer to compete and files will be looked at in an “as is” state.

 

 

1st IO BDE CMD Selection

FA 30 colonels may compete to command 1st Information Operations Command per DA Pam 600-3, ch 20-3. This is not a DA selected command position. Eligible population is all LTC/P thru COL FA 30 officers that are eligible to PCS to Fort Belvoir. Eligible officers will be notified by email and notice will be posted on FA30 HRC Web site. Officers must volunteer to compete and files will be looked at in an “as is” state.

 

 

Sample CMD Selection Board Announcement

The U.S. Army Information Proponent Office holds the boards to select the Battalion Commander and Brigade Commander of 1st Information Operations Command. The board will evaluate the files of all officers volunteering for this board. The final product of this board will be an order of merit list (OML) of all candidates. Since this is an internal selection board and not a central selection list (CSL) board, officers considered must work with FA30 HRC manager in securing their release from their current assignment if they are selected. Every attempt will be made to assign the officer at the top of the OML to the command. However, if the officer cannot be released from his/her current assignment, the FA30 HRC manager will move to the next officer on the OML. The first officer on the OML available for reassignment will take command.

 

This board is open to all Functional Area 30 officers MAJ/P through LTC with at least 12 months time on station as of the date given in board announcement (24 months time on station for a joint duty assignment list ( JDAL) billet). Eligible officers must be military education level (MEL) IV qualified. Officers with an approved separation or retirement date on or before date given in board announcement are not eligible for the board.

 

This is a voluntary board (non-CSL, internal board). Therefore, there is no priority for file updates given to officers competing for this board. The FA 30 HRC manager will assist you where possible, but this board will review files in an "as is" condition. You must contact the FA 30 HRC manager, if you wish to compete. In order to ensure all eligible officers are aware of this opportunity, NEGATIVE RESPONSES ARE REQUIRED. You may decline without prejudice and compete in future boards.

 

Reply to e-mail notification with one of two responses (examples use BN CMD):

 

"I WISH TO COMPETE FOR THE FY 2010 BATTALION COMMAND BOARD FOR 1ST BATTALION, 1ST IO COMMAND, LOCATED IN FORT BELVOIR, VA."

 

"I DECLINE CONSIDERATION (WITHOUT PREJUDICE) FOR THE FY 2010 BATTALION COMMAND BOARD FOR 1ST BATTALION, 1ST IO COMMAND."