ing area of concentration 38G (Military Government)
specialists. ATP 3-57.70, Civil-military operations Center, identifies that, “By fiscal year 2016 all FxSP functional specialists positions identified in the USAR will
be recoded to 38G. The new area of concentration has
the ability, through the use of criteria for degree-ofproficiency coding, to distinguish between competence levels corresponding to strategic, operational,
and tactical employment. Proficiency levels are determined by experience, education, and certifications and
will identify four levels of proficiency: basic, senior,
expert, and master.”7 Despite these coming changes,
the inherent low density of even these new 38G FxSP
subject matter experts in any formation makes it even
more critical to link theater based operations with
stateside USAR CA SMEs, even while in a part time
Troop Unit Program (TPU) status.
Background – DoS’s Current Approach to SMEs
DoD is not the only government agency challenged with finding operational relevancy for SMEs
in its ranks. In 2005, the Department of State (DoS)
published its Post-Conflict Reconstruction Essential
Tasks. In an attempt to bring its SMEs to where they
could have a relevant application in Iraq and Afghanistan and address these post-conflict reconstruction
essential tasks, DoS created the Civilian Response
Corps (CRC). Similar to the USAR CA FxSPs, the CRC
would be experts in their respective reconstruction
fields and be able to provide actionable guidance and
recommendations on CMO goals to senior DoS and
DoD officials on the ground. Despite being well intentioned, the CRC also was also not resourced as it was
envisioned due to a revision by DoS in the roles of the
Conflict Stabilization Operations Bureau.
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