Foreign Area Officer Program
The Foreign Area Officer (FAO) is the Department's uniformed expert that possesses a unique combination of strategic focus, regional expertise, cultural awareness, and foreign language proficiency. FAOs provide the Department of Defense with a uniformed presence in key countries and regions around the world. They serve as Senior Defense Officials, military attachés, security cooperation officers, political-military planners or analysts in combatant commands and defense agencies, arms control treaty inspectors, and liaison officers to host nations or allies. FAOs currently serve in more than 130 countries. DLNSEO has responsibility for FAO programs via:
The DLNSEO funded Language Training Center at George Washington University hosts the Foreign Area Officer Regional Skill Sustainment Initiative, consisting of seven specifically designed short courses provided annually.
For additional language, region, and culture resource links recommended by DLNSEO, please click here.