Posted on Feb 22, 2016
CPT Armor Officer
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I am thinking about my future in the Army and something that has caught my interest is trying to VTIP into a functional area, specifically FA40 Space Operations Officer. I'm currently an Armor Officer and will be promotable next spring hopefully. What can I do to prepare or to make myself standout?
Posted in these groups: Officers logo Officers7d8bf29 40A: Space Operations
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MAJ Space Branch Chief
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I'm a current FA40. Hardly any of us have STEM degrees. This is what will set you apart based on published trends and speaking with our proponency office:

1) Very strong OERs

That's it. It will help if you already have a TS/SCI and if you have already been to CCC, but none of those are disqualifiers, nor will they significantly set you apart. The number one driving factor on how selective the process is, is how many slots are available. During my VTP, they took 5 out of 26 applicants. Next VTIP, they took 25 people. If you want any information at all about FA40, hit me up on NIPR. I'm on global under Daniel W. Smith, JTAGS-CENT Commander.
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MAJ FAO - Europe
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I'm a FAO, but transferred over before the era of VTIP. Watching potential FAOs go through the VTIP process over the last couple of years, I'd just note that one shouldn't "self-select out." By this, I mean that even though the various functional areas list out the types of officers they are interested in VTIP'ing in, at the end of the day, each functional area has a need to assess in X number of officers each year, there's no telling how many officers and of what level of qualification will apply to VTIP into a certain functional area at a certain time, and the functional areas will VTIP in the best officers from those that apply.
Apart from the sorts of qualifications that the various functional areas require, the functional areas are also primarily interested in quality officers. In the Army, quality is largely indicated by previous performance (ie, OER box-checks).
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LTC Chauncy Nash
LTC Chauncy Nash
>1 y
As a retired FA40, I'd say having a strong STEM background is key. There are other factors that can play in as well. Any experience or training you may have involving Space should strengthen your profile. Getting the 3Y Skill identifier would help to be an identifier as well. This link should get you to a brochure: https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/protect/assets/pdf/ppo_trifold.pdf
You can also try contacting the FA40 branch manager through the HRC portal. They may have some tips for you as well or at least let you know what your chances are. Sometimes, it's just a manner of timing. A fellow officer assigned with me at 1st Space Brigade was an Armor officer. He happened into an assistant S-3 position there from Ft Carson, but was able to be assessed into FA40. I hope this helps.
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CPT Analyst
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Go to the career course and transfer while there. It will help to remove you from the assignment cycle that will follow career course and reduce your risk of poor assignment management by the chuckle heads that dole out assignments once they learn that you do not want to follow the vaunted PL, CO, BDE Staff, AS3, S3, XO, BN CO pipeline. If they know you are not competing for future BN command or ILE within your armor peer group, your future will become an afterthought to them. Good Luck!
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What can help me standout in order to VTIP into a Functional Area?
LTC Sse Chief
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Make sure that you have a STEM degree or have. Awaited submitted. I was an Armor Officee that assessed into FA40. There are a bunch of us. What is your undergrad degree in?
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LTC Sse Chief
LTC (Join to see)
>1 y
Sorry, autocorrect got me. Make sure you have a STEM degree or can submit a waiver....
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CPT Armor Officer
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
Sadly not a STEM, sir. That's really my main concern about my eligibility. I have a bachelor of arts in general studies. I have thought of taking college courses in the meantime to make myself more marketable to fields like FA40.
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LTC Sse Chief
LTC (Join to see)
>1 y
I am not sure how the board members look at files, but you can get a waiver for it. I know of several 40s that do not have STEM degrees. It isn't a show stopper, but definitely helps. Additional classes may help as they would be on the transcripts that you send in...however, I am not sure that it would make you more marketable.
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MAJ Space Operations
MAJ (Join to see)
>1 y
Having a TS/SCI Clearance is also a step in the right direction, if you don't have one talk to your 2 and get one. Additionally, take space courses like Space 200, space cadre course, or any of the NSSI courses; this will show the board that you are committed to becoming a FA40 and help you understand the technical aspects of the mission area.
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