Sec. 1322. FOREIGN AREA OFFICER ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW

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## SEC. 1322 FOREIGN AREA OFFICER ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW ###

(a)Findings Congress finds the following: ####

(1)Foreign Area Officers of the Army and their equivalent positions in the other Armed Forces (in this section referred to as “FAOs”) are trained to manage, grow, and enhance security cooperation relationships between the United States and foreign partners and to build the overall military capacity and capabilities of foreign partners. ####

(2)At present, some senior defense official positions in United States embassies are filled by officers lacking the necessary skills, training, and experience to strengthen the relationships between the United States and its critical partners and allies. ####

(3)FAOs are trained to fill those positions, and deficiencies in the equitable use, assessment, promotion, diversity and inclusion of such officers, as well as limitations on career opportunities, undermine the ability of the Department of Defense to strengthen partnerships and alliances of the United States. ####

(4)A federally funded research and development center can provide a roadmap to correcting these deficiencies, strengthening the FAO branch, and placing qualified FAOs in positions of positive influence over United States partnerships and alliances. ###

(b)Assessment and Review Required ####

(1)In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to conduct an independent assessment and comprehensive review of the process by which Foreign Area Officers and their equivalent positions in the other Armed Forces (in this section referred to as “FAOs”) are recruited, selected, trained, assigned, organized, promoted, retained, and used in security cooperation offices, senior defense roles in U.S. embassies, and in other critical roles of engagement with allies and partners. ####

(2)Elements The assessment and review conducted under paragraph

(1)shall include the following: #####

(A)Identification and assessment of the number and location of senior defense official billets, including their grade structure and availability to FAOs. #####

(B)A review of the cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity of FAOs. #####

(C)An assessment of the assignment process for FAOs. #####

(D)A review and assessment of the promotion criteria, process, and possible pathways for career advancement for FAOs. #####

(E)A review of the organization and categorization of FAOs by geographic region. #####

(F)An assessment of the training program for FAOs and its effectiveness. #####

(G)An assessment of the available career paths for FAOs. #####

(H)An assessment of the criteria used to determine staffing requirements for senior defense official positions and security cooperation roles for uniformed officers. #####

(I)A review of the staffing of senior defense official and security cooperation roles and assessment to determine whether requirements are being met through the staffing process. #####

(J)An assessment of how the broader utilization of FAOs in key security cooperation and embassy defense leadership billets would improve the quality and professionalism of the security cooperation workforce under section 384 of title 10, United States Code. #####

(K)A review of how many FAO opportunities are joint-qualifying and an assessment of whether increasing the number of joint-qualified opportunities for FAOs would increase recruitment, retention, and promotion. #####

(L)Any other matters the Secretary determines relevant. ###

(c)Results The federally funded research and development center conducting the assessment and review described in subsection

(b)shall submit to the Secretary the results of such assessment and review, which shall include the following: ####

(1)A summary of the research and activities undertaken to carry out the assessment required by subsection (b). ####

(2)Considerations and recommendations, including legislative recommendations, to achieve the following: #####

(A)Improving the assessment, promotion, assignment selection, retention, and diversity of FAOs. #####

(B)Assigning additional FAOs to positions as senior defense officials. ###

(d)Submission to Congress ####

(1)In general Not later than December 31, 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives— #####

(A)an unaltered copy of the results submitted pursuant to subsection (c); and #####

(B)the written responses of the Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to such results. ####

(2)Form The submission under paragraph

(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.