More of this Feature • Air Force Job Descriptions • USMC Job Descriptions

Join the Discussion Talk About Military Jobs

Related Resources • Joining the Military • Enlisted Jobs

Elsewhere on the Web • Joining the Air Force • Joining the Army • Joining the Navy • Joining the Marines • Air Force OTS • Air Force ROTC • Air Force Academy

AFSC 16F4, Staff
AFSC 16F3, Qualified
AFSC 16F1, Entry

Specialty Summary. Provides foreign language competency and regional expertise essential to interaction with foreign militaries and organizations. Plans, formulates, coordinates, and implements Air Force (AF) aspects of international politicomilitary (pol-mil) policies. Advises and briefs commanders and government officials on international problems affecting the AF. Represents the AF in international and interdepartmental conferences and negotiations. Ensures productive engagement with partners and allies across the range of operations, including support of AF participation in contingency operations. Related DoD Occupational Group: 3A.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Formulates AF positions on combined pol-mil affairs. Develops policy positions on international political problems of national, combined, or joint service interest. Makes recommendations on treaties, international agreements, and pol-mil plans, policies, and procedures. Receives, evaluates, and translates information from national and international agencies into pol-mil guidance. Assists in developing, coordinating, and implementing National Security Council policies. Participates in development, coordination, and implementation of National Policy Papers and guidelines for policy and operations papers on a worldwide basis. Determines requirements for military actions to implement national policy objectives.

Coordinates pol-mil affairs. Advises combined, joint, and AF commanders and officials on pol-mil affairs. Maintains liaison with Departments of State and Defense and other governmental agencies concerned with international affairs. Presents and interprets AF positions to interdepartmental and international committees and groups effecting negotiations on government-to-government and service-to-service levels. Provides guidance on international aspects of AF plans. Coordinates with Departments of State and Defense in conducting treaty and agreement negotiations.

Monitors AF interests in international affairs. Represents AF on international staffs, projects, surveys, advisory groups, missions, and defense boards. Participates in treaty and agreement negotiations affecting the AF. Conducts research on world or area pol-mil affairs. Advises on political implications of war plans.

Conducts analytical studies. Analyzes political situations and trends, and prepares studies, reports, and surveys on political implications of proposed actions.

Specialty Qualifications:

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of geopolitics, international relations, U.S. foreign policy, international power relationships, and U.S. military organization and operations.

Education. A Master’s degree in area studies or international relations is desirable for entry into this specialty. The following education requirements are mandatory for entry into the AFSCs as indicated (see note 1):

16F1. Undergraduate academic specialization in area studies or international relations with a specific area focus.

16F1X (suffixes B-H). Undergraduate academic specialization in area studies or international relations with specific area focus correlating to the foreign language tested

Training. None.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSCs indicated:

16F3. A minimum of 12 months of experience in a politico-military (pol-mil) assignment whose primary duties consist of routine contact and work with a foreign military or government (e.g. international pol-mil affairs, Security Assistance Organization, Personnel Exchange Program).

16F3A. A minimum of 12 months of experience in an attaché assignment.

16F3X (suffixes B-H). A minimum of 12 months of experience in a pol-mil assignment related to the foreign language tested whose primary duties consist of routine contact and work with a foreign military or government (e.g. international pol-mil affairs, Security Assistance Organization, Personnel Exchange Program).

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

For entry and award of AFSCs 16F1/1X (suffixes B-H), qualification for foreign area duty according to AFI 16-109, Foreign Area Officer Program.

For entry into AFSCs 16F1X (suffixes B-H), a minimum Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score of 1+/1+ (listening/reading) in a foreign language related to the area identified by the suffix (see note 1).

For award of AFSCs 16F3X (suffixes B-H), a minimum DLPT score of 2/2 (listening/reading) in a foreign language related to the area identified by the suffix.

NOTES:

1. Significant in-country regional experience may be substituted for the mandatory education. Experience includes significant duty that included regular interaction with the host country’s military or government, or experience as a regional or country desk officer in an analytical or policy function. Significant civilian in-country experience may also be considered, such as study abroad programs, missionary work, or Peace Corps service. Education or experience must correlate with the officer’s foreign language capability.

2. Officers who meet the education criteria for predominantly English–speaking countries such as Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, may be awarded AFSC 16F1 without a shredout.

Specialty Shredouts:

A...................Attaché
B....................Central Asia/East Europe/Russia
C....................Latin America
D................... East Asia/China
E....................Southeast Asia
F.................... Middle East/North Africa
G ...................Sub-Saharan Africa
H...................Western Europe

Return to Air Force Jobs Menu

Above Information Derived from AFMAN 36-2105