20231220_Vocabulaire militaire français-anglais.pdf — page 76

Page 76 
 
L A  M I S S I O N  D E  D É F E N S E  ( M D D )  
 
DOD67 Attaché Office (DAO) 
 
 
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 16-113  
6 SEPTEMBER 2011  
Operations Support  
USAF ATTACHÉ PROGRAM  
 
 
Chapter 1 
 
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 
 
1.1. Overview. (…) 
 
1.2. Officer Positions. Attaché positions are filled by officers in the grade of O-4 through O-8 and 
include Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT), Air Attaché (AIRA), and Assistant 
Air Attaché (A/AIRA). Attachés represent the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Geographic Combatant Commander 
(GCC), Combatant Command (COCOM), and provide critical advice on bilateral political-
military issues to the U.S. Ambassador/Country Team. Attachés serve as embassy liaison 
with host-nation defense establishments, openly observe and report developments and 
significant events, and actively participate in national security and operational policy 
development and coordination. They build/sustain key international relationships that 
enable Department of Defense (DoD) global operations and directly support overseas 
contingency operations. Attachés are selected from most line officer career specialties, and in 
general, an operations background, foreign language skills, experience in the region, and working 
in or with intelligence are all highly desired for attaché candidates.  
 
1.3. Enlisted Positions. Attaché support positions include Operations Coordinator (OPSCO) 
(= assistant de l’attaché de défense [AAD]) ; 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. 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. (= des gens qui ont de l’initiative, et sont arrangeants, convaincants et aiment 
persévérer). Attaché support duty is open to all Air Force Specialty Code’s (AFSC), capitalizing on 
the wide range of professional expertise in the USAF enlisted corps.  
 
1.4. Screening/Selection. As a high visibility, special-duty assignment, the selection process 
for DAS duty is very thorough. Screening typically starts two to three years prior to the 
required reporting date on station. Candidates are nominated by the Air Force Personnel 
Center (AFPC), the Air Force Colonel’s Management Office (AF/DPO), or the Air Force Chief 
Master Sergeant Management Office (AF/DPE) to SAF/IAPA. This process includes extensive 
documentation requirements, interviews, and (for attachés only) approval by a USAF Selection 
Panel. The selection panel typically consists of representatives from SAF/IA, AF/A2, and the 
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Note: General officer attaché screening/selection is 
accomplished by the Air Force General Officer Management Office (AF/DPG).  
                                                          
67 DOD = Department of Defence