The overall purpose of the FAS Program is to provide LREC capabilities to MAGTF commanders at the tactical and operational level, strengthen irregular warfare capability and improve Marine Corps integration with the Interagency. These voluntary specialties are open to a select group of enlisted Marines who provide commanders a way to effectively navigate the increasingly complex cultural terrain of global missions.
FASs possess all three LREC critical skill sets, achieved over a 12-month duration. To develop these skills, they are subject to a rigorous training schedule including graduate-level education, immersion language training, and regional travel.
(1) Study Track. This is a 12 month program. Additional training events may be available that would add approximately two months to this training time.
(a) Phase I consists of 6 months of graduate-level, regionally-focused education at NPS.
(b) Phase II consists 3 months of language training.
(c) Phase III consists 3 months of regional travel.
(2) Partial study track. Applicants must possess at least one of the three critical LREC skills to be eligible to apply for the Partial study track program. SNCOs selected for the partial study track program will complete those phases of training as needed to develop the LREC skill set necessary to qualify for the FAS MOS.
(3) Experience Track. Applicants with an internationally-focused bachelor’s degree, sufficient regional experience, and language proficiency may qualify for the FAS MOS without significant additional training. Marines may request a constructive credit waiver of the undergraduate degree requirement based on significant professional experience in the region, such as participation in:
(a) Marine Corps Personnel Exchange Program (PEP)
(b) Marine Corps Embassy Security Group Tour
(c) Defense Attaché Service Tour
(d) A waiver for experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis if it equates to a minimum of 12 months of academic or professional interaction with local nationals, e.g., overseas tour in civil affairs billet, military training team tour, military interpreter tour, missionary work, undergraduate or graduate degree from a foreign university or college, Peace Corps, etc.