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New career field lets officers focus on overseas jobs

The Air Force has created a new career field specifically for foreign area officers , who often work in embassies overseas and as attaches to foster cooperation with other nations’ militaries.

Col. Lawrence Pravecek, the chief of the Air Force’s international airmen division, said in a Jan. 12 interview that the new 16F Air Force specialty code will help foreign area officers concentrate on those jobs, advance in their careers, and show the service’s commitment to international cooperation .

The more than 700 airmen currently serving as foreign area officers have from now until Feb. 8 to apply to transfer to the new 16F career field. It will be a voluntary move, Pravecek said. Officers who want to stay in their original career fields will not be forced to switch.

Foreign area officers work in U.S. embassies around the world, usually in defense attache offices or security cooperation offices, or in staff jobs at geographic combatant commands, Pravecek said.

When he served as a defense attache in Honduras, Pravecek served as the liaison between the Honduran military and the U.S. government, he said. His office would help set up security cooperation agreements between the two nations, including military sales, as well as arrange training for Honduran service members and high-level diplomatic meetings between the nations’ military leaders.

Since the FAO program was created in 2008, the Air Force has filled those roles with skilled officers who alternate between their core specialty, and their foreign area officer specialty. Such officers are chosen to become FAOs after about seven to 10 years in uniform. They go through about three years of training, then serve in an embassy billet or staff job overseas.

They must be fully qualified in their area of expertise, have an advanced academic degree that focuses on a particular region, speak the region’s language and have at least six months of experience serving there.

But, Pravecek said, this ended up creating a dual track that sometimes hindered those officers’ career advancement. After their FAO assignment, they typically returned to their core job, and then spent the rest of their careers alternating between the two jobs.

Farewell, Line of the Air Force: Massive officer category broken out into six groups

The first promotion board to use the new categories will be the lieutenant colonel board scheduled to meet next march..

This placed FAOs at a disadvantage, he said, because they had to meet the career advancement milestones for two different jobs. They had to keep their foreign language and regional skills up, he said, but also hit the typical goals for their core career field to get promoted.

Keeping a dual-track system, Pravecek said, also sent an unintentional message to other services that the Air Force wasn’t fully committed to the foreign area officer program. He said that foreign area officers in the Army stay in that program for the rest of their careers once they make a switch, and don’t return to operational or command roles.

“We were seen as kind of part-time FAOs,” Pravecek said.

In 2019, former Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Seve Wilson ordered a review to see how to improve the FAO program. The solution they came up with was to create a new core Air Force specialty code to allow FAOs to better concentrate on that job.

Officers will still be selected to become FAOs after seven to 10 years and then train. But now, Pravecek said, they will serve two overseas assignments before returning to serve an intervening operations tour. This intervening assignment will let them stay sharp in their original areas of expertise, and spread their international experience in the operational sides of the Air Force, he said.

“We’re developing our officers a little more in-depth, but we are still keeping that currency and the command experience that we think is important to give to the embassy countries’ teams where these officers are going to work,” Pravecek said.

Pravecek said the Air Force is now running webinars to help current FAOs understand what such a switch might mean for them. Afterward, they can choose whether or not they want to volunteer. He expects 80 to 90 percent will want to switch to the new career field.

There is one catch, he said. Creating a more specialized core of career FAOs who don’t move back and forth as much will allow the Air Force to trim the program’s ranks to about 400 lieutenant colonels and majors, and another roughly 100 colonels.

The Air Force’s 2019 move to break the massive Line of the Air Force category up into six smaller competitive categories also helped pave the way for this change, Pravecek said. When promotion time rolled around and FAOs had to compete against nearly the entire cadre of officers, but hadn’t met all of their core job’s milestones because they were overseas, they were at a disadvantage.

But when FAOs are placed in a smaller, more specialized category — which one hasn’t been decided yet — competing against officers with similar backgrounds, they’ll have a much better shot at promotion, he said.

Command experience will not be required for FAOs to advance, Pravecek said, but Air Force senior leaders still think it is an important experience for them to have. These officers will be able to try for one of 11 FAO commands around the world, he said.

They could also be eligible for command positions in their old core career fields, or other areas where they are requested, though they would stay in the 16F career field. Such a command billet could be how an FAO fulfills his requirement for an intervening ops tour after two foreign assignments, Pravecek said.

When officers get such a variety of experiences, it will ultimately make them more effective when they go back overseas, he said.

“That combination of leadership skills that they learned being a squadron commander, and FAO skills that they learned through their FAO career, that makes them a better advisor to the ambassador, and a better advisor to the host nation military,” Pravecek said.

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.

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Tour lengths increase for certain first-term overseas assignments

• Published Feb. 11, 2021
• By Staff Sgt. Jeremy L. Mosier
• Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Effective March 1, Airmen and Guardians overseas tour lengths are now 36 months for first-term unaccompanied permanent assignments at certain overseas locations. Unaccompanied Airmen and Guardians, both enlisted and officers, who are on their first permanent duty assignment will serve 36 months at the following Pacific Air Forces and United States Air Forces in Europe locations: RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom; RAF Lakenheath, U.K.;  RAF Alconbury, U.K.; RAF Croughton, U.K.; London, Menwith Hill, U.K.; Fairford, U.K.; Welford, U.K.; Molesworth, U.K.; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Stavenger AB, Norway; Ramstein AB, Germany; Kaiserslautern, Germany; Sembach, Germany; Vogelweh, Germany; Landstuhl, Germany; Kapaun, Germany; Einsiedlerhof, Germany; Spangdahlem AB, Germany; Kadena AB, Japan; Misawa AB, Japan; and Yokota AB, Japan. An unaccompanied overseas tour is a tour served overseas without command-sponsored dependents when dependents are authorized at that location. “During these moves, service members not only have to adjust to their new jobs, but also to a new culture and country, which takes time,” said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly , deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. “A 24-month tour was not adequate for our new Airmen and Guardians to thrive, nor was it enough time to provide the continuity needed for the unit. The change was made to support the mission and to ensure our members receive a longer transitional period.” The new tour length provides the unit with more time to train and develop the service member, and it provides stability during the member’s first few years in the Department of the Air Force, Kelly said. During the initial assignment briefing, orders officials will inform affected members of the new 36-month tour length. This policy does not apply to retrainees, crossflows and prior service members who receive a commission. The overseas tour lengths for accompanied service members remain the same, 36 or 48 months, depending on the tour type. For more information on the changes to tour length, visit AFI 36-2110 .

Featured News

• When I look at the EQUAL listing on the web, I see statements that talk about being "frozen"; for example, "short - - anyone who has never been on a short tour overseas is frozen as a non-volunteer" or "short - - anyone with 1 short tour or less and a return date equal to or earlier than xxxx is frozen as a non-volunteer". What does "frozen as a non-volunteer" mean?
• Do I have an assignment?  
• Can you verify my volunteer status and preference?
• What is open overseas?
• What is the status of my follow-on, in-place base-of-preference, or other assignment application?
• As a military couple returning from overseas, why can't we compete for CONUS assignments advertised on the EQUAL list?
• As an overseas returnee, why can't I get more notification time for my CONUS assignment?
• If I am in the overseas area and desire a Consecutive Overseas Tour (COT), how do I know what requirements to volunteer for on the EQUAL listing ?
• How do I stand for overseas selection? What is my number on the volunteer/nonvolunteer overseas list?
• What is an Imbalanced AFSC (IAFSC) and can I find out if I have one?
• I have recently been selected for an assignment to XYZ AFB. Is there a site on the World Wide Web where I can find information on my new base?

[ Back to Top ]

2. QUESTION: Do I have an assignment?

Answer . Assignment notification is a commander's role. Once assignments are made, we send them to the MPF and unit commanders are advised. You will be notified shortly thereafter. The release dates for each cycle's assignments are published each quarter. Contact your MPF and/or Commander's Support Staff for the latest assignment information.  You may also look at Virtual MPF (vMPF)

3. QUESTION: Can you verify my volunteer status and preference?

Answer . Most MPFs can verify this as they are now directly connected to the AFPC computer.

4. QUESTION: What is open overseas?

Answer . Under the Enlisted Quarterly Assignments Listing (EQUAL) process, we list the assignments we will match during the next cycle. This list is sent to MPFs approximately four weeks before the match is made. You can review the list and update your preferences if you would like to volunteer for any of the advertised requirements. Freeze date or "vulnerability" columns are included on the EQUAL listing for overseas requirements. The dates are AFSC and grade specific and reflect both long and short tour vulnerability. The long tour date shows Overseas Duty Selection Date (ODSD) and the short tour date shows both the Short Tour Return Date (STRD) and the # of previous short tours. If your dates are on or before the dates shown and the number of short tours are equal or less then the number shown, you are vulnerable for selection as a non-volunteer. Use ONLY your current grade (NOT one grade up or one grade down) unless you're projected for promotion. If you're projected for promotion, use your projected grade ONLY. A1Cs will volunteer based on DOR, promotion eligibility, and skill level as identified on the EQUAL coverpage.   Check Assignment Management System (AMS) to see your EQUAL and EQUAL+ list.

5. QUESTION: What is the status of my follow-on, in-place base-of-preference, or other assignment application?

Answer . These programs are run at different times of the quarter based on various parameters (i.e., homebasing/follow-on applications are processed 120 days prior to projected departure date). MPFs may submit queries regarding home-basing/follow-on applications when departure date is within 90 days and the application was submitted over 30 days ago.  You may also use Virtual MPF (vMPF)

6. QUESTION: As a military couple returning from overseas, why can't we compete for CONUS assignments advertised on the EQUAL list?

Answer . The key word is compete. The overseas returnee assignment process is designed to be fair & equitable by using factors such as the current type of overseas tour you are on, the number of previous short tours you have had, your DOR, etc., to establish a "pecking order" that racks & stacks overseas returnees for each AFSC by grade. In other words, if there were 5 Supply (2S0X1) SSgts returning in a given EQUAL cycle, the above factors would be used to actually prioritize those 5 SSgts, ranking them 1 through 5; then these 5 SSgts would compete (not pick & choose) for the available assignments. In the military couple situation, although there are 2 people, there is only 1 family, and our goal is to keep the family together if at all possible. Moreover, in a military couple's situation, the military members may have different AFSCs or different grades/skill levels from one another. So if we tried to include the military couple in the "pecking order", one member might be #1 in their Grade/AFSC, but their spouse might rank #5 in their Grade/AFSC. There's just no way to include military couples in the EQUAL returnee process and maintain both our goal of keeping the family together and equity for other returnees who are not part of a military couple. Based on this, we have found that "hand matching" these assignments is the best & fairest method. 

7. QUESTION: As an overseas returnee, why can't I get more notification time for my CONUS assignment?

Answer . As an overseas returnee, your assignment process actually begins when you sign your DEROS RIP to indicate you wish to keep your DEROS & not extend nor do an in-place COT (IPCOT). Once we know you are a firm loss from the overseas location, the ball starts rolling for us to determine how many overseas assignments we need to make, i.e., replacements for you and others returning during your three month cycle. Once that's done, we advertise those assignments on the Overseas EQUAL list, then match the most eligible people to those assignments. So in other words, we need to first find out who your replacement is & more importantly where is he/she coming from before we can determine the CONUS assignments and in turn advertise them on the CONUS EQUAL list. This process is all computerized, that's the good news; the bad news is that it is a very time consuming process because of the "old" computer hardware/software being used and the timelines are at the maximum levels now with no flexibility for change under the current computer platform. However, the entire Personnel System (not just assignments) is undergoing a multi-year/multi million dollar modernization/upgrade effort that will eventually allow us to adjust the timelines. Bottom line, we will be providing more notification time for overseas returnees (probably 4-6 weeks more), but our ability to do so is still a couple of years from implementation. In the meantime, we have to live with the stringent timelines of the current system.

8. QUESTION: If I am in the overseas area and desire a Consecutive Overseas Tour (COT), how do I know what requirements to volunteer for on the EQUAL listing ? 

Answer . Individuals with an indefinite DEROS are eligible for a consecutive overseas tour (COT) anytime after completing their original tour. Individuals with an established DEROS can also be considered for a COT but can only volunteer for advertised requirements with a reporting date (RNLTD) equal to their DEROS month or the following two months. For example, assuming you have not already entered the overseas return cycle and your DEROS is Jan, you are eligible to compete for assignments with a Jan, Feb, or Mar reporting. You must also meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in AFI 36-2110 .

9. QUESTION: How do I stand for overseas selection? What is my number on the volunteer/nonvolunteer overseas list?

Answer . Eligibility for overseas listings are maintained by individual assignment NCOs. Relative standing changes daily due to factors such as number of volunteers, available assignments, people entering or leaving the eligible pool (assignments, promotions, retirements, separations, retraining), authorization changes, etc. Therefore, numerical standing by itself is useless data without an understanding of those factors and knowledge of future overseas requirements. Because of that, we do not provide this information in specific terms. However, you can find your approximate vulnerability by checking the freeze dates for your grade and AFSC on the overseas EQUAL listing. This will help you decide if you are "hot" for overseas and, armed with that info, you can more effectively participate in the assignment process. There are a few AFSCs that do not receive assignments under EQUAL (i.e. 1AXXX). Please review the EQUAL list cover page for specifics.

10. QUESTION: What is an Imbalanced AFSC (IAFSC) and can I find out if I have one? 

Answer . An imbalanced AFSC is a specialty in which we have a significantly higher number of requirements overseas than we do in the CONUS. If you have two or more awarded AFSCs and one is or becomes imbalanced, and you are selected for overseas duty, it will be in the imbalanced AFSC. Additionally, to meet overseas requirements, those retraining into an imbalanced skill will not be deferred from reassignment and may be selected for overseas assignment as soon as they are awarded a three skill level in the retraining specialty. On the other hand, if you are retraining from an imbalanced AFSC, you will usually be deferred from overseas assignment for two years from completion of the formal training that awarded the 3 skill level AFSC. You can find out if your AFSC is imbalanced by reviewing the Air Force Retraining Advisory which is maintained by the Personnel Employment Element in your MPF. You can also usually find a copy of it in the Customer Service Element. Imbalanced AFSCs are identified with an asterisk (*) on the overseas EQUAL (currently not available on the Web listing). Click here to view the current Overseas Imbalanced AFSC's.

11. QUESTION: I have recently been selected for an assignment to XYZ AFB. Is there a site on the World Wide Web where I can find information on my new base? 

Answer . As a matter of fact there is information on the world wide web where you can find information on your new assignment. It's a site called Air Force Crossroads . Right now, this site is providing a "one-stop" approach to getting information on just about every major military installation. Once at the desired location you will find additional links that provide local-area information on the community, relocation services, housing information, medical and dental services, and support services, to name a few. It's a promising new website under construction and definitely worth looking into. The address for Air Force Crossroads is: http://www.afcrossroads.com  

Page Updated on: 21 October 2009

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Air Force updates overseas returnee counseling handout

• Published March 14, 2007

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Working abroad?

• Global Guide
• Working Abroad

Your Assignment Abroad: Its Career Impact

• International Assignments and Soft Skills

Going abroad for a work assignment is a big step, not only for your social and family life, but also for your career. Those who take the leap abroad soon find out whether and how this experience can give their career a well-deserved boost.

In previous articles we have addressed the many issues you might come across while abroad. However, you will also come across many new professional opportunities. If you are bold enough to take that huge step and hop on a plane, you may get a lot of good things out of your time abroad as an expat.

The longer you stay, the more time you have for a fully-fledged expat experience. However, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how long your assignment takes: Even being an expat for only half a year will enhance your chances in the company hierarchy or on the job market significantly.

The Effects of an Assignment Abroad

Moreover, your experience abroad can give you additional confidence. If you are adventurous enough to embark on a new assignment in another country or even become a “self-made” expatriate, you have already proven adaptability and determination. Paired with your newfound confidence and self-reliance, your experience abroad will greatly increase your chances on the job market.

Sue (24) used to be the shy type in college. “I wasn’t exactly a mousy wallflower,” she says and laughs, “but, yeah, it was pretty close sometimes.” When she decided to go to Ghana for a year and teach English and Arts in a rural community development project, she was almost as amazed at her own courage as most of her friends.

Gaining Confidence

Upon her return to Texas, Sue quickly realized how her assignment abroad had given her new confidence. Soon after she came back, she landed her dream job with a non-profit art project in Houston, Texas. “You just know that you have accomplished something. And after a whole year in Ghana, a couple of job interviews weren’t all that scary anymore.”

Just like Sue, you will thrive in the new working environment if you are equipped with patience, calmness, tenacity, and a well-developed sense of humor. An assignment abroad can be the perfect opportunity to further your personal development. Your manners, appearance, and behavior will change as your assignment gives you an air of new-found competence and confidence.

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Why Aviano Is the US Military's Best Overseas Assignment

It wasn't too long ago that Aviano, Italy nabbed the top spot in our list of the Best Overseas Military Base Towns .

Aviano is a small, sleepy town located in a non-touristy part of Northern Italy -- although Venice is only 45 minutes away. The town is known mostly for its Air Force presence, but the surrounding area is marked by rolling vineyards and rural farmland situated at the base of the Dolomite Alps. What it lacks in tourist hotspots it more than makes up for in family-owned wineries that go back generations. And since there's no housing on base, military personnel settle into surrounding towns like San Quirino, Polcenigo, Sacile, Brugnera, Budoia, or Vigonovo -- and learn to live like the locals do.

Although many servicemembers add Aviano to their wish lists, getting assigned here involves the mysterious interplay of job openings, rotation schedules, and supreme favor in unseen places. And since Aviano is an Air Force base, it's primarily airmen that are lucky enough to call Aviano home. However, fear not: sailors, Marines, airmen, and Coasties are full of disparaging Air Force jokes that almost even the score.

Uncle Sam can send military personnel to all sorts of places (especially some not-so-great ones ), but we tracked down some lucky locals, both past and present, to get the scoop on what makes living in Aviano so unforgettable.

Eating local is easy

City markets offer local produce that's super fresh and far less expensive than anything you would find in the States. Italians shop here, rather than at a supermarket, for fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, honey, and fresh flowers. If you'd rather leave the cooking to the experts, restaurants here offer the finest genuine-article Italian cuisine you could ever want, all sourced from the nearby countryside.  Of course you'll be drinking coffee all day in those teeny mugs that make your hands feel huge, but if you want to mix up your libation routine, sgroppino is a refreshing lemony cocktail that's a staple of the northern region.

One word. Four Letters. Starts with a "W."

Wine -- it's accessible, inexpensive, and often regionally produced. One local told us, "Wine sounds like a no-brainer, but being able to roll up to virtually any restaurant at 11:30am and order a glass of prosecco for two euro is glorious." The Gelisi vineyard is the closest one to base, but one resident recommended Rive Vineyard, a family-owned winery that offers an evening event once a year where an astronomy professor comes with a telescope and invites guests to look at stars and planets while being served fresh pasta and wine.

Prosecco Rd is a paradise

Just 40 minutes down the road is a 20-mile stretch of vineyards called Prosecco Rd . It's speckled with small, family-owned wineries specializing in Italy's famous sparkling wine. Many of these wineries, like Garbara , double as agriturismos (see below) and pair wine tastings with plates of prosciutto, salami, and local cheeses. If you're hungry for a fuller meal between sips, Trattoria Ristoro Fos De Marai has food that's as good as its terrace views. There are guided bus tours of the region if you don't have a volunteer to do the driving for you.

Venice is under an hour away

Hop on a train and stop into town for Carnevale or the Venice Film Festival, or you know, just an afternoon cup of coffee. Also convenient? Venice has the closest international airport, which means if your flight is delayed, the worst-case scenario is to find a way to kill a few hours in one of the world's most charming cities.

The hills are alive and the beach is close, too

Aviano is located at the base of the Dolomite alps, which means the hills are alive with more than the sound of music. There's also loads of hiking, cycling, camping, and outdoor adventure. And if snowcapped alps and cliffside vineyards are too sharp and rugged for your tastes, grab some sunscreen and head to one of the nearby beaches along the Adriatic Sea. Lido di Jesolo is a popular spot known for its yellow dolomite sand.

Agriturismos are hard to spell but fantastic to eat at

Locals are quick to highlight agriturismos as the best dining experience rather than name-drop popular restaurants you could find on Yelp. Agriturismos are farms that offer food or lodging (or both!). And you can find them near and far from Aviano, so it's just as easy to make a day trip for dinner as it is to travel to one for a weekend getaway. Most have a casual mom-and-pop feel and serve produce, cheese, pasta, olive oil, meat, and wine sourced straight from their backyards. Local fare doesn't get any more authentic than this.

The world's best dessert comes with a tiny spoon

Even those homesick for America can find solace in the outstanding and ubiquitous gelato. The only source of debate here is where the best scoop lives, with arguments to be made for Fontanafredda at Il Gelateria, 30 minutes outside of town, or nearby Aviano hotspot 86 Il Gelato.

You'll like your neighbors

The Italian locals are kind and helpful, even towards kids. One resident told us, "You can bring your kids to dinner at 9:30 at night and no one will even bat an eye."

Castles, castles, castles

They are everywhere -- or at least ruins where they used to stand. Living here is like living in a fairytale with actual scenic evidence to back it up. There are castle ruins nearby, but the Castello di Miramare, or "Castle Admiring the Sea," near Trieste is especially worth the 90-minute car ride.

Shop for history

Antique markets pop up every Sunday and are a dream outing for anyone trying to accessorize their house a bit more like Joanna Gaines. Look out for treasures that are hundreds of years old -- including demijohns -- which are bulbous, narrow-necked glass bottles.

Eastern Europe is a road trip away

Aviano's location in Northern Italy means that places like Slovakia, Croatia, Prague, and Budapest are accessible by car -- not just train or plane. Or, if your have an itch to travel but aren't up for planning your own excursions, the Tickets & Tours office on base regularly offers guided tours of European attractions. Think: French Riviera, Germany's Oktoberfest, Cinque Terre, Rome, or even Croatia… by boat.

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  The top 6 reasons to take that overseas assignment

Many of us dream of living abroad for at least some time during our life. and for very good reason. there are many benefits, both personal and professional, to embarking on an international assignment. , 1. explore the world .

If you have the travel bug, there’s nothing more satisfying than working abroad. Not only do you get to experience your new country at a much deeper level, you get paid to do it.

Living in a foreign country is completely different to a holiday. You’ll actually get to experience your adopted country in the long-term, picking up local knowledge along the way such as who sells the best coffee, what tourist traps to avoid and how to get the most out of your new city. As well as exploring your host country, you’ll also get the chance to travel to neighbouring countries on your time-off. 

2. Brush up on your language skills

3. enhance your career & boost your cv.

Having an international assignment on your CV could boost your future employability. The training and work experience you gain at an overseas company will expand your horizons and range of expertise.

In a globalised, well-connected world, employers increasingly value candidates with international work experience, and it’s often seen as a prerequisite for most senior positions at major international companies. Many professionals who undertake expat assignments find that they experience faster career progression as a result. 

4. Experience a new culture

5. earn better pay and benefits .

Many expats receive salaries that are considerably higher than those of their counterparts back home, and in some countries expats also benefit from favourable tax regimes.

In addition, expats normally also receive a considerable amount of expatriate benefits. An additional allowance is usually provided to help with relocating and settling into a new country and often includes accommodation, work permits, medical cover and other perks.

6. Expand your global network

Working abroad is a great way to expand your personal and professional network,   giving you the opportunity to build relationships with people in your field on an international level.  Developing an international social network can be useful both during your stay and when you're back in your home country.

Luckily, maintaining the network you build abroad is now easier than ever before. Social media, LinkedIn, and apps like WhatsApp, can all help you to stay connected with your circle of friends from all over the world.

If you are considering an assignment overseas, don’t forget to look after your health and wellbeing with international health insurance  which will allow you to access quality healthcare while working abroad. 

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• Casualty Assistance
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Upon Receipt of PCS Orders to an Overseas Location… The following steps are mandatory, unless marked otherwise, for the unit/person listed: 1.  Gaining Command Determine if member requires no-fee passport upon arrival and comply with MILPERSMAN Article 4650-020 . Ensure command website and Welcome Aboard package are up to date and provide to member. 2.  Detaching/Transferring Command a. Follow procedures in MILPERSMAN Articles 1300-300 through 1300-306 and 1300-316 for overseas screening and dependent entry approval.   b. Advise member not to ship household goods and privately owned vehicles until successfully screened. c. Ensure member has a completed and documented HIV test within 24 months of detachment. d. Ensure member completes and/or meets the requirements listed in the PCS orders within the timeline given.  If a timeline is not given then the step must be completed before the CMC/COB/SEA (for enlisted) and CO (all) sign NAVPERS 1300/16, REPORT OF SUITABILITY FOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT. e. Enlisted only, ensure member has sufficient OBLISERV. f. If required, ensure security clearance/background investigation is current, if not then initiate/submit request. g. Ensure member and adult family member(s) receive general and/or AOR-specific (as applicable) individual anti-terrorism (AT) awareness training from a certified AT training officer within six months of travel. h. Determine if member and/or dependents will require a no-fee passport and advise them to apply ASAP as passports can take up to six months to process.  Information regarding passport requirements by country can be found at  https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil/fcg.cfm . i. Ensure member has completed  cultural awareness training . j. Ensure BOL Overseas Screening tab is updated with either "Suitable" or "Unsuitable'. To get access to the overseas screening tab following the directions on Overseas Screening .  3.  Member a. Apply for security clearance (if applicable) within 15 days of receipt of orders. b. Commence Overseas Screening for self and dependents within 15 days of receipt of orders .  Ensure command reports status on BUPERS On-line (BOL) within 30 days of receipt of orders.      1. If dependent has a chronic condition, it is mandatory to enroll dependent in the Exceptional Family Member Program.  The local military medical treatment facility or health-care screener should be able to assist in completing the application process in conjunction with your overseas screening. c. Apply for no-fee passports for self (if applicable) and dependents within 15 days of receipt of orders.  See MILPERSMAN Article 4650-020 for further guidance.  Passports can take up to four months to process with VISAs requiring an additional three months.  NOTE: Non-U.S. dependents will have to coordinate with their own national Embassy/Consulate to obtain the necessary Passport/VISA. d. Upon receipt of PCS Orders, contact your Personal Property Transportation and Household Goods Office.  Privately owned vehicle shipment restrictions may exist for departure to, and/or CONUS re-entry from, the overseas duty location. e. Enlisted only :  Obtain sufficient OBLISERV to complete the tour length per PCS Orders.  f. Complete anti-terrorism training, per  MILPERSMAN Article 1300-300 . g. Once the overseas screening is complete then request dependent entry approval per  MILPERSMAN Article 1300-316 . h. Contact nearest military treatment facility or TRICARE service center prior to transfer for counseling on urgent or emergency medical care during PCS move. 4.  TSC/RSC a.  Ensure NAVPERS 1300/16 has been signed by the representative of the medical treatment facility, CMC/COB/SEA (enlisted only), and the CO.  Do not rely on a printout from BOL, per NAVADMIN 085/07 and Pay and Personnel Information Bulletin (PPIB) 09-30. 5. Important Information and Websites: a. General TRICARE information can be found at   Home | TRICARE . b. Exceptional Family Member Program information can be found at  Exceptional Family Member (navy.mil) . c. General on and off base housing information can be found at  Navy Housing . d. Navy Lodge information can be found at  Navy Lodge - Navy & Military Hotels, Lodging & Housing (navy-lodge.com) .  Central Reservation: 1-800-NAVY-INN/1-800-628-9466. e. Government lodging information can be found at DOD Lodging .  Central Reservation: 1-877-NAVY-BED/1-877-628-9233.     1. ***  New JTREGMARIANASINST 7200.1D (08JUN23) f. Childcare information and registration for new duty station can be found at  Child and Youth Programs (navy.mil) . g. You can process your household good (HHG) shipment application, and receive counseling, online at your convenience at  DPS & Defense Personal Property Program | Military OneSource .   h. To set up essential utilities and services for your new home anywhere in CONUS and Hawaii use the free on–line NEX moving center at  Navy Exchange: You Serve, You Save | Official Site (mynavyexchange.com) i. Information regarding your next duty station - contact the nearest Relocation Assistance (navy.mil) j. Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) support to individuals and units, and to Navy members on overseas assignments have access to self-paced cultural awareness products and language learning materials relevant to the deployment destination or assignment location.  For additional information click on  Center for Information Warfare Training: Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture - NETC (navy.mil) .  k. For command mailing address - View All Bases & Installations | MilitaryINSTALLATIONS (militaryonesource.mil) l. Instructions to create a self-service Electronic Service Record account are located on at  NSIPS CLO (navy.mil) . m. Many airlines are charging baggage fees.  Information on baggage fees and more can be found at  Airline information | GSA . n. All parents who are looking to register their dependents for potential enrollment in a DoDEA school are encouraged to preregister using the Online Student Pre-Registration System.  This system is available for use at:  Registration Process | DoDEA .

Mom of captured U.S. soldier Gordon Black says girlfriend 'lured' him to Russia

The worried mother of a U.S. soldier in Russian custody said Wednesday that her son “was lured” there by a Russian woman he had been seeing in South Korea for over a year and that he’s being held on trumped-up charges of stealing roughly $100 from her.

Melody Jones said she thinks her son, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, was set up by his girlfriend, whom she identified as Aleksandra Vashchuk.

“I think she convinced him to come there,” Jones said in a video interview from her home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. “He wanted to see her for the last time before going home, and so he went there.”

The Russians detained Black, 34, on theft charges last week after he traveled from the military base in South Korea where he had been stationed to the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.

A Defense Department spokesperson said Tuesday that the Army is investigating whether Russia’s intelligence services specifically targeted Black.

“There is an administrative investigation underway to determine the facts and circumstances around his travel,” deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said at a news conference Tuesday.

Black is an experienced soldier with 16 years of service who was supposed to be traveling to Fort Cavazos, Texas, to start a new assignment, the military said.

Asked why Black would risk traveling to a country where other Americans are being held against their will, Jones gave a one-word answer.

“Her,” she said. “He met her in the bar where she was working, and they’ve been together, on and off, for about a year and a half. I’ve never met her in person, but I’ve spoken to her over Messenger. My motherly instincts told me something was wrong with her.”

Jones said her son, who is in the midst of a divorce, “is a good boy with a cute, crooked smile.”

“He was a good soldier, too,” and he speaks fluent Russian, she said. 

But Vashchuk had some kind of hold over him, she said. 

“I was talking about it with my husband, and we don’t know what it is,” Jones said. “Why would she latch on to him?”

On Tuesday, Radio Free Europe found what it says is the TikTok account of a woman who posted several videos of her apparently with Black in South Korea in 2022 and 2023. The woman said in the videos that she lived in South Korea for five years.

Jones said that woman appeared to be Vashchuk.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry office in Vladivostok has said Black’s detention had nothing to do with politics or espionage.

Black didn’t have Defense Department clearance to visit Russia, nor is there any indication that he planned to stay there, Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith said earlier Tuesday.

An attorney for Megan Black said in a statement Thursday that she and Black are in the process of divorcing.

She "firmly believes that Mr. Black’s decision to travel to Russia, while ill-advised, was motivated by entirely personal reasons involving an extra-marital affair between himself and a Russian National and that Mr. Black is not involved in any form of geopolitical intrigue," attorney Brett Pritchard said.

Megan Black hopes "her husband obtains a prompt and fair resolution to his current legal situation and is able to secure his release back home as soon as possible," the statement. said.

“Instead of returning to the continental United States, Black flew from Incheon, Republic of Korea through China to Vladivostok, Russia, for personal reasons,” Smith said in a statement.

When Black landed in Vladivostok, he was charged with “secretly stealing property” of a person referred to as “citizen T” and ordered held until at least July 2, Pervomaisky District Court spokeswoman Elena Oleneva said in a statement Tuesday.

The court confirmed that Black would be held for at least two months.

Jones said her son told her he was in civilian clothing when he was pulled off the plane and interrogated for several hours.

Black, who grew up in a small town in southern Illinois, enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 2008, Smith said. From October 2009 through September 2010, he served in Iraq, Smith said. He also served in Afghanistan from June 2013 until March 2014.

Most recently, Smith said, Black was assigned to the Eighth Army and based at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, which is the largest overseas U.S. military installation in the world.

On April 10, Black was “out-processed” and given two weeks to get to Texas, Smith said.

Current travel guidance from the State Department advises against all travel to Russia.

Jones said her son told her he planned to stop in Vladivostok before he flew to Texas. 

“I was worried about him going, because the government there has been grabbing Americans,” she said. 

The captive Americans include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was jailed in March 2023, and former Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018. 

“I told him not to go,” Jones said. “I was more worried about him going to Russia than I was when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Jones said her son texted her after he was detained.

“The last thing I got from his was ‘Don’t worry about me, I’m OK,’” she said. 

Jones said her son listed her as his emergency contact and that’s why she got the call from the State Department on Thursday that he had been arrested by the Russians. She said that she hasn’t heard from anybody since then and that she’s not sure whether his wife has been in touch with the military. 

“They have a 6½-year-old daughter,” Jones said. “And she misses her daddy.”

Jones said Black isn’t her only son. She has two others, as well as a daughter. So she won’t be alone on Mother’s Day.

“Gordon used to call me at least once a week,” she said. “And he usually sends me flowers on Mother’s Day. The last time it was two dozen red roses. But I guess not this year.”

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Overseas pay for civil service employees.

Federal employees assigned to a foreign post are typically compensated differently compared to those stationed within the continental United States.  This page describes the allowances and differentials commonly associated with overseas service and available to employees in the civil service (i.e., appointed under Title 5).  The allowances and differentials, used as recruitment and retention tools, are considered discretionary and subject to the availability of funds.

For further additional information, refer to the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) , and the Foreign Affairs Manual .

General Overseas Allowances and Differentials

Advancements in pay:.

• Moving Overseas or Medical Emergency :  An employee’s pay may be advanced up to six pay periods (three months).  Such advancements are found when an employee first moves overseas or when an employee or family member experiences a sudden medical emergency.  See DSSR 850 and 5 U.S.C. § 5927.
• Due to Evacuation :  An employee’s pay may be advanced by up to 2 pay periods (30 days) when there is an ordered evacuation of an employee and/or his or her dependents at a foreign post.  See DSSR 600 and 5 U.S.C. §§ 5521–5527.

Danger Pay Allowance :  An allowance not to exceed 35 percent of basic pay, when service is performed in a country experiencing civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions that threaten physical harm or imminent danger to the employee’s health and well-being.  If the employee is also receiving the “difficult-to-staff incentive” (see below), the combined may not exceed 35 percent of basic pay. See DSSR 650 and 5 U.S.C. § 5928.

Post Hardship Differential :  A recruitment or retention incentive provided to employees for service at places in foreign areas where conditions of the environment differ substantially from conditions in the continental United States and warrant additional compensation due to extraordinarily difficult living conditions, excessive physical hardship, or notably unhealthful conditions affecting the majority of employees officially stationed or detailed to that location.  See DSSR 500 and U.S.C. § 5925(a).

Difficult-to-Staff Incentive :  An additional recruitment or retention incentive, valued at up to 15 percent of basic pay, provided to certain employees already receiving postal hardship differential, when a post has experienced particularly adverse conditions.  See DSSR 1000 and 5 U.S.C. § 5925(b). 

Cost of Living Allowances :  Employees stationed overseas are not paid locality pay, since this is limited to employees within the continental United States, as well as to non-foreign areas, such as Alaska and Hawaii.  Instead, employees are eligible for certain cost of living allowances, in addition to their base compensation.

• Post Allowance :  This allowance is paid to compensate employees officially stationed at a post in a foreign area where the cost of living, exclusive of quarters costs, is substantially higher then in Washington, DC.  The amount is a flat rate, determined by the family size, basic salary, and location.  See DSSR 220 and 5 U.S.C. § 5924(1).
• Foreign Transfer Allowance :  This allowance is paid to cover the necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by an employee to establish himself or herself at the assignment in the foreign area.  The three components of the allowance are a miscellaneous expense portion (for example, vehicle registration), pre-departure expense portion (meals and lodging), and a lease penalty portion (to pay off an existing lease). See DSSR 240 and 5 U.S.C.§ 5924(2)(A).
• Home Service Transfer Allowance :  This allowance is paid to help cover necessary and reasonable expenses typically found when an employee transfers from a foreign post back to the United States.  Examples include meals, lodging, dry cleaning, and vehicle registration.  See DSSR 250 and 5 U.S.C. § 5924(2)(B).
• Separate Maintenance Allowance :  This allowance is paid when an employee’s family is either prohibited from accompanying the employee to the new foreign duty station (“involuntary SMA”), chooses not to for personal reasons (“voluntary SMA”), or has to establish a new household temporarily due to evacuation (“transitional SMA”).  This allowance helps to defray the cost of maintaining two separate households.  See DSSR 260 and 5 U.S.C. § 5924(3).
• Educational Allowance :  This allowance is used to help defray the cost of an employee sending his or her child to an elementary or secondary school at the new foreign post. See DSSR 270 and 5 U.S.C. § 5924(4)(A).
• Educational Travel :  This allowance pays for the round trip travel expenses for an employee’s child (typically attending college) to see his or her parents at the foreign post.  See DSSR 280 and 5 U.S.C. § 5924(4)(B).

Quarters Allowances :  Employees may receive quarters’ allowances to reimburse an employee for the cost of obtaining quarters on the local economy when neither Government-owned nor Government- rented quarters are available. 

• Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance :  This allowance provides for the reasonable cost of temporary quarters, meals, and laundry expenses for a period of up to 90 days after first arrival at the foreign post, and up to 30 days before the final departure from the foreign post.  See
• DSSR 120 and 5 U.S.C. § 5923(a)(1).
• Living Quarters Subsistence Allowance :  This allowance is designed to cover substantially all of the average employee's costs for rent, heat, light, fuel, gas, electricity, and water while the employee is living at the foreign post. See DSSR 130 and 5 U.S.C. § 5923(a)(2).
• Extraordinary Quarters Allowance :  This allowance, not to exceed 90 days, is meant to cover temporary living expenses that are incurred when a privately leased residence at the foreign post must be renovated before the employee (and his or her dependents) can move in.  See DSSR 140 and 5 U.S.C. § 5923(a)(3).

Official Residence Expense Allowance :  This is an allowance reserved to a principal representative of the U.S. Government at a foreign post who may incur unusual expenses in the operation and maintenance of a suitable official residence. See DSSR 410 and 5 U.S.C. § 5913.

Reviewed and updated November 8, 2019

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