anonymous wrote:So, here I am, a FAO all trained up. Master's in regional studies? Check. Language? Check - sort of. JMAS? Soon-to-be checked. Ready for the field? Check??
Soldier, statesman, diplomat...am I ready to tackle the myriad of roles my service, my country is expecting of me? I certainly haven't sufficiently mastered my language - a 3/3, are you kidding? Envious grumblings directed at my Army bretheren as they galavant over their country and surrounds for a year. Me, I got 4 weeks. Wow.
I feel pretty good about the regional studies and can certainly expand on that (and have) through my own studies. Of course, it would be waaay cool to spend some time in the country - truly experience the culture, the societal nuances that will make a superb attache vs. a merely acceptable one.
And hey, where are all the O-6+ previous attaches? Can we take mentoring a little more seriously please?
Ah well, I guess it's back to the old standard of on-the-job training. You know, learn as I go from those around me...wait, what do you mean it's a one-deep position?!? Can you say "international incident"?
I'm with you...unsure what service you are (except not Army, yes?), but as an Air Force guy, I can relate. My lame 2/2 in Russian (from the DLPT IV that I've been taking since they got rid of the DLPT III) justified my getting this posting in Moscow (no complaints). I had to beg for 6 weeks of Russian refresher (last refresher class? 1990!). Now I've managed a 2+/2+ on the DLPT V, but after one month in Russia, I've found that this result means exactly squat. Funny, but I don't find any salesmen here who want to talk about healthcare reform, but they sure want to know if I have a discount card and they want to know the answer RIGHT NOW! Waitresses want to tell me all about their specials and they want to know how I want my steak cooked. Again, no one wants to know what I think about health care reform in the good old USA!
I'm also in a one-deep position, but gladly that's as an assistant; I'm lucky enough to have a full-up attache to learn from. Sadly, when I'm done with this assignment (which will be way too early), I'll have to go back to my primary career field for 3-4 years. Somehow I will have to manage to keep my Russian up during that time.
Again, no complaints. I am one of the extremely lucky AF guys to actually get assigned to a country where they speak the language that I was trained/selected for. I really feel bad for the AF FAOs who get assigned to stateside postings where they do not get to hear "their language" everyday.