FOREIGN AREA OFFICER (1650)

OVERVIEW

The 1650 Foreign Area Officer (FAO) designator identifies Restricted Line officers in the U.S. Navy who specialize in regional expertise, foreign-language proficiency, and political-military analysis. Navy FAOs serve as Naval Attachés in U.S. embassies, foreign-relations officers on combatant command staffs, security-cooperation officers, and politico-military planners on the Joint Staff and Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

All FAOs are lateral-transfer officers from URL communities, typically transferring as Lieutenants or Lieutenant Commanders. Designation requires graduate education in regional/security studies (typically at the Naval Postgraduate School, College of International Security Affairs, or a partner civilian institution) plus achievement of professional language proficiency (Defense Language Proficiency Test 2/2 or higher) in a target regional language.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as Naval Attaché or Assistant Naval Attaché at a U.S. embassy
• Lead security-cooperation programs at a combatant command
• Provide regional and politico-military analysis on Joint Staff or OPNAV staff
• Maintain language proficiency and regional expertise

HISTORY

The Navy Foreign Area Officer community was formally established in 2006 as a permanent Restricted Line designator, modeled on the long-standing Army FAO program. Before 2006, regional and politico-military expertise was provided by URL officers on collateral duty, by attaché-only officers, or by Foreign Area Specialty Officers (an earlier subspecialty code) who returned to their parent communities after a single tour.

The post-9/11 demand for region-specific naval expertise — combined with the Navy's renewed focus on great-power competition in the Indo-Pacific and Europe — drove the decision to make the FAO a career-long, full-time community. The community has grown steadily since establishment and now provides regional expertise across all six geographic combatant commands and at every major U.S. embassy with a Defense Attaché Office, and supplies the senior politico-military advisors on the Joint Staff, OPNAV, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

COMMISSIONING SOURCES

• Lateral transfer from URL only

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. 1. Naval Postgraduate School~24 months
   Monterey, CA
   Master's in regional security studies, with regional concentration.
2. 2. Defense Language Institute (DLI)6–18 months
   Monterey, CA
   Language training in a target regional language to DLPT 2/2 or higher.
3. 3. In-Country Immersion6–12 months
   Region of specialization
   Cultural and language immersion in a U.S. embassy or partner organization.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

1. O-3/O-4
   Lateral transfer + Education
   Successful URL officer transfers to 1650 and attends NPS or partner institution for regional graduate study and language training.
2. O-4
   In-Country Training
   In-country immersion tour at a U.S. embassy or partner military.
3. O-4/O-5
   First FAO Production Tour
   Naval Attaché, Security Cooperation Officer, or Politico-Military planner billet.
4. O-5/O-6
   Senior FAO Billet
   Senior attaché, security-cooperation chief, or major staff politico-military lead.

RELATED DESIGNATORS

• 1830 · Restricted Line
  Intelligence Officer
• 1110 · Unrestricted Line
  Surface Warfare Officer
• 1310 · Unrestricted Line
  Naval Aviator
• 1710 · Restricted Line
  Public Affairs Officer

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SOURCES

• My Navy HR — Foreign Area Officer Community
• Defense Language Institute
• Naval Postgraduate School