Some common reasons many of us became interested in the military are the chance to travel around the world, experience new cultures and take on unique responsibilities.
Assignments to overseas bases provide an excellent opportunity for those seeking this lifestyle, but the possibilities don’t end there. A variety of programs, courses and language development opportunities might lead you to serving in unique roles in less common locations.
These programs are designed to enhance understanding of foreign counterparts, build international relationships and provide advice on international policy, and those participating in them can be collectively described as “international Airmen.”
Officers and enlisted members can apply to serve in U.S. Embassies around the world to support programs with the Defense Attache, Security Assistance or Defense Threat Reduction offices. These members provide critical support to our warfighters by working on a variety of issues that affect us when we transit to foreign countries. These issues may involve working country clearances for personnel and aircraft, staffing provisions of a Status of Forces Agreement, coordinating logistics support and contracting of local personnel to support transiting aircraft and fostering relationships with the partner country through joint military events and exercises.
The benefits of participating in such assignments are tremendous. A particularly rewarding feature is that it is easy to develop a great appreciation for the large amount of logistics and planning that goes into supporting military operations overseas. It is not common for a smaller embassy to have only one armed service represented in an office, and that can result in an Army member working on issues related to Air Force requirements or vice versa.
Members assigned to these duties get to interact with a multitude of organizations including combatant commanders, major commands, the State Department, foreign militaries and foreign ministries.
The unique responsibilities carried with these positions come with opportunities for advanced training. Members selected for embassy duty are often sent to the Defense Language Institute and an in-depth, follow-on training in preparation for a diplomatic assignment.
Airmen in the Military Personnel Exchange Program work alongside their foreign counterparts and are functionally integrated in a foreign unit, often flying on or with airframes, equipment and programs dissimilar to those in the U.S. Air Force.
Different agencies have various programs for those seeking language skills and international development, ranging from short courses to programs tailored for a career-long commitment to working in international policy. Air University developed the Language Enabled Airman Program to identify and develop Airmen with strategic language skills. The U.S. Air Force Regional Affairs Specialist and Political Affairs Specialist Programs select officers from most career fields to alternate between assignments in their core career field and those suitable for developed international Airmen.
Short courses provided by organizations such as the Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, and the Asia Pacific Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, bring together military members from various countries to discuss security issues from a variety of perspectives. While these courses are generally filled with those selected for development as an international Airman, occasional opportunities exist for those who wish to participate under unit funding.
As a pilot and Eurasian RAS officer, I’ve been lucky enough to have served in two Central Asian embassies, participated in programs with the Marshall Center, attended the Defense Language Institute and sent on language immersions in Russia and Ukraine. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in international delegations to the U.S. with counterparts that spoke little English, and gain unique experiences that I never expected would come with an Air Force career.
However, the most enjoyable aspect of all has been the incredible and professional people that I’ve met along the way. For those with a desire for adventure and some “outside the box” responsibility, the opportunities are waiting!
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Some common reasons many of us became interested in the military are the chance to travel around the world, experience new cultures and take on unique responsibilities.
Assignments to overseas bases provide an excellent opportunity for those seeking this lifestyle, but the possibilities don’t end there. A variety of programs, courses and language development opportunities might lead you to serving in unique roles in less common locations.
These programs are designed to enhance understanding of foreign counterparts, build international relationships and provide advice on international policy, and those participating in them can be collectively described as “international Airmen.”
Officers and enlisted members can apply to serve in U.S. Embassies around the world to support programs with the Defense Attache, Security Assistance or Defense Threat Reduction offices. These members provide critical support to our warfighters by working on a variety of issues that affect us when we transit to foreign countries. These issues may involve working country clearances for personnel and aircraft, staffing provisions of a Status of Forces Agreement, coordinating logistics support and contracting of local personnel to support transiting aircraft and fostering relationships with the partner country through joint military events and exercises.
The benefits of participating in such assignments are tremendous. A particularly rewarding feature is that it is easy to develop a great appreciation for the large amount of logistics and planning that goes into supporting military operations overseas. It is not common for a smaller embassy to have only one armed service represented in an office, and that can result in an Army member working on issues related to Air Force requirements or vice versa.
Members assigned to these duties get to interact with a multitude of organizations including combatant commanders, major commands, the State Department, foreign militaries and foreign ministries.
The unique responsibilities carried with these positions come with opportunities for advanced training. Members selected for embassy duty are often sent to the Defense Language Institute and an in-depth, follow-on training in preparation for a diplomatic assignment.
Airmen in the Military Personnel Exchange Program work alongside their foreign counterparts and are functionally integrated in a foreign unit, often flying on or with airframes, equipment and programs dissimilar to those in the U.S. Air Force.
Different agencies have various programs for those seeking language skills and international development, ranging from short courses to programs tailored for a career-long commitment to working in international policy. Air University developed the Language Enabled Airman Program to identify and develop Airmen with strategic language skills. The U.S. Air Force Regional Affairs Specialist and Political Affairs Specialist Programs select officers from most career fields to alternate between assignments in their core career field and those suitable for developed international Airmen.
Short courses provided by organizations such as the Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, and the Asia Pacific Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, bring together military members from various countries to discuss security issues from a variety of perspectives. While these courses are generally filled with those selected for development as an international Airman, occasional opportunities exist for those who wish to participate under unit funding.
As a pilot and Eurasian RAS officer, I’ve been lucky enough to have served in two Central Asian embassies, participated in programs with the Marshall Center, attended the Defense Language Institute and sent on language immersions in Russia and Ukraine. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in international delegations to the U.S. with counterparts that spoke little English, and gain unique experiences that I never expected would come with an Air Force career.
However, the most enjoyable aspect of all has been the incredible and professional people that I’ve met along the way. For those with a desire for adventure and some “outside the box” responsibility, the opportunities are waiting!