Posted on Feb 22, 2016
What can help me standout in order to VTIP into a Functional Area?
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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
40A: Space Operations
Officers 40A: Space Operations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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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.
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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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).
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
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.
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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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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