Functional area qualification and development. Functional area qualification and development. Generally, before being assigned to a FA 49 billet, the ORSA officer receives his or her initial FA 49 training. Two principal means exist for obtaining the initial training in FA 49.
All officers are encouraged to complete a master's degree in a primary or an associated discipline.
The qualification criteria listed below are the minimum requirements for an FA 49 officer to qualify for promotion to the next higher rank. Generally, captains receive their initial training between their 7th and 9th years of service. Captains normally serve as members of study teams or as ORSA staff officers where they are expected to apply the ORSA skills they have acquired through their initial training. Although no requirements for functional area qualification exist at the rank of captain, experience in FA 49 as a captain may enhance the officer's chances of being designated into the Institutional Support Career Field as an FA 49. FA 49 majors serve primarily as ORSA analysts.