Are you a MSgt interested in leading our career field as the next FDM?

That's not even a real AFSC anymore, but, still the best one :)

MSgt (Join to see) - Sadly, you are correct. The 1N5's were combined with the 1N2's shortly after I retired. I suppose that's a good thing since both AFSC's were doing the same basic job and had been used interchangeably for years. I'll always be a 205X1 though! (yeah, I'm that old! lol)

Force Development Manager is a term that is unique to Civil Engineers. Up until 2012 we had Career Field Managers (CFMs) for each of our 12 3E Shredouts but in 2012 it was decided to consolidate 8 operational shredouts under one CFM who sits at HAF. The other 4 non-operations AFS (Fire, EOD, EM and ADL) retained their own CFM.

As an FDM I perform roughly 95% of the CFM duties on behalf of the CFM. Essentially his position manages the manning/funding of the career field and I do everything else.

I think CFM is what you are referring to as opposed to functional? Those terms are often confused on their roles. For example you might have a 3D0 functional at the MAJCOM but they are their for relaying info from the CFM to the field. You also have an assignments functional for your career field at AFPC. If you want to affect change on your AFS, you need to make it to that CFM level or in CE's case, the FDM level.

Hope I explained it well enough!

SMSgt (Join to see) - Absolutely, thank you. Being a MAJCOM 3D0 functional is what I want to do (perhaps even the CFM).

Capt Brandon Charters if I gave them my elevator pitch it would reveal how little work I do! ;)

Honestly though, I feel that I have been giving my elevator pitch through observed performance over the last three years. However, if I were stuck in the elevator with you and you were a DirtBoy MSgt, I would simply ask you "do you have issues with things in the career field currently? How would you like to be the one guy that had the ability to affect change on those issues...become the FDM and that responsibility is yours!"