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Attache opportunities open to enlisted personnel
By AFPC Customer Support
September 13, 2012

The Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) and Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (SAF/IA) are accepting applications for Operations Coordinator (OPSCO) and Operations NCO (OPSNCO) Defense Attaché Specialist duty, reporting for training during the period October 2012 - February 2013. All active duty E-6s to E-8s are eligible to apply.

Projected attaché openings for this selection cycle (training start dates: October 2012 - February 2013) are:

Country/Position/Training Start Date/In-Country Report No Later Than Date (RNLTD)/Specifics

  • Switzerland/OPSNCO (E-7 or E-6) Oct-12/Oct-13

36 months-accompanied; language - German

  • Mexico/OPSNCO (E-7 or E-6) Nov-12/ Nov-13

24 months-accompanied; language - Spanish

  • Egypt/OPSNCO (E-7 or E-6) Dec-12/ Apr-13

36 months-accompanied; no language

  • Botswana/OPSCO (E-8 or E-7) Jan-13/May-13

36 months-accompanied; no language

  • India/OPSNCO (E-7 or E-6) Jan-13/May-13

36 months-unaccompanied; no language

  • Norway/OPSNCO (E-7 or E-6) Jan-13/May-13

36 months-accompanied; no language

  • Sierra Leone/OPSCO (E-7) Jan-13/May-13

24 months-accompanied; no language

  • Cameroon/OPSNCO (E-7 or E-6) Feb-13/Nov-13

24 months-accompanied; language - French

Brief job descriptions and required criteria are as follows:

(a) Attaché support positions include Operations Coordinator (OPSCO); Operations Non-Commissioned Officer (OPSNCO); and Airborne Mission Technician (AMT); they are special-duty positions filled by enlisted personnel in the grade of E-5 through E-9, who manage all operational support aspects of the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) mission. They represent the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force to the host nation government officials. In this role, OPSCOs and OPSNCOs are charged with developing and maintaining harmonious and cooperative relationships between the USAF and the host nation air force.

(b) Attaché support duties include managing logistics and administrative support; executing budget requirements; working country, personnel, aircraft and ship clearances; supervising foreign national office staff; and direct support of VIP visits. Attaché support personnel must be self-starters who are flexible, persuasive and persistent. Attaché support duty is open to all Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC), capitalizing on the wide range of professional expertise in the U.S. Air Force enlisted corps.

Applicants for this selection cycle must:

(a) Be active duty technical sergeants through senior master sergeants. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve NCOs are not eligible for these positions.

(b) Be released from their assignment functional manager to compete for an attaché assignment.

(c) Must be a U.S. citizen and all immediate family members (parents, siblings, children, and spouse) must be U.S. citizens.

(d) All Airmen and accompanying family members must undergo a comprehensive physical examination and gain medical and educational clearance IAW AFI 40-701, Special Needs Identification and Assignment Coordination, dated May 18, 2006, as part of the screening selection process.

Download applications from the Air Force Portal by typing "Attaché Program" in the search box and selecting "Attaché Application (Mar 12)." Email applications to SAF/IAPA-Attache@pentagon.af.mil

Individuals selected for further screening will be notified directly by HQ AFPC/DPAA2. No notifications will be sent to non-selectees. If you are not selected this cycle, we will retain your application on file until the end of the cycle. Should any of our candidates drop out, or we have a short notice, out-of-cycle requirement, we will try to refill the position from the applications we have on file. If you are not selected this cycle, we encourage you to resubmit an updated application for the next cycle.