Enlisted Air Advisor - Basic

What does the Enlisted Air Advisor - Basic career field do?

This classification identifier facilitates functional management, force development; planning, programming, budgeting, execution; and assignment of enlisted Air Advisors. This duty description covers enlisted Airmen specifically trained as Air Advisors. Qualification requires whatever certification/qualification is required of their CAFSC as well as Air Advisor qualifications described here. Fully qualified Air Advisors serve in a unit manning document (UMD) Air Advisor position of a standing unit assigned Air Advisor mission roles in their Designed Operational Capability (DOC) statements, i.e., Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS), a provisional unit serving in a deployed TDY status, or as part of stand-by forces trained and tasked through other processes to perform the Air Advisor mission in support of CCDR/AFFOR plans and objectives. These specially trained Airmen also conduct what are referred to in joint force concepts as Security Force Assistance (SFA) operations. Specialty requirements include knowledge of Security Cooperation authorities, planning, foreign disclosure requirements, assessment, monitoring, and evaluation of security cooperation plans and operations, cross-cultural expertise, and individual and team force protection TTP.

Duties and responsibilities

• Performs Air Advising and SFA activities by working with and through foreign aviation forces in support of combatant commander’s regional objectives.
• Air Advisors tailor their team compositions to mission need and may involve any AFSC in the USAF.
• Air Advisors, assess, train, advise, and assist foreign aviation forces in tactical and operational-level airpower integration and operationalization. In SFA context this mission set involves activities to organize, train, equip, rebuild/build, and assist/advise (OTERA) foreign security forces in support of CCDR objectives.
• Air Advisors can mission plan, execute, and recover in a variety of scenarios with combat service support assistance, accomplishing this within legislative and military guidance.
• Air Advisor teams generally deploy and operate in permissive or uncertain environments but with proper preparation can operate in hostile environments.
• Through AFFOR, TSOC, SCO, and MAJCOM staff, Air Advisors coordinate plans and synchronize activities to provide CCDRs a resource optimized approach to achieving objectives by working with and through partner aviation security forces.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Must have knowledge of: Security Cooperation law and planning, Foreign Internal Defense, Security Force Assistance; force protection skills involving various scenarios for individuals and team settings, demonstrated intercultural competency.

• As a minimum, member must be fully qualified 5 level in their primary AFSC.

Education. Not used

Training. Completion of the following are mandatory for award of this classification identifier:

• Air Advisor Initial Qualification Course (AA IQC, PDS Code 2K4) or Combat Aviation Advisor Mission Qualification Course (CAAMQC, PDS Code 2MW). Note: For functional communities with skills taught to Air Advisor qualification level for Field craft, Air Advisor A course (AAA, PDS Code 1LA) is authorized.
• AFSC specific training for qualification and currency at minimum of 5 level in their primary AFSC.
• AFSC-specific training to include flight training for aircrew. May involve specialized non-USAF aircraft training and qualification.
• Classification identifier awarded on completion of the Air Advisor Initial Qualification Course (or course "A" per note at 3.4.1.) or AFSOC Combat Aviation Advisor Mission Qualification Course.

Experience. None for Basic Air Advisor (8L100)

• Team Sergeant (8L200) and Team Leader (8L300) requires certification and approval by a qualified Air Advisor commander, and is a specialty qualification that has additional dedicated training.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• Must meet requirements listed in AFI10-4301v1, Air Advisor Training.
• Must possess skills and knowledge to complete tasks listed in DODI 5000.68, Security Force Assistance, 27 October 2010.
• Specialty may require routine access to classified material. For award and retention of classification identifier, completion, and favorable adjudication of appropriate level of security clearance is required.

Utilization Note:

• Award of this SDI is only authorized when an airman has completed award requirements. When the member is qualified as an 8LX, the SDI is awarded and will remain in the secondary, third, or fourth position IAW AFMAN 36-2100, unless the member is disqualified from the SDI then it will not remain as an awarded AFSC. Do not alter primary, control, or duty AFSCs with this SDI.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $63,080–$128,020 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Intelligence Analysts: $86,280
• Political Scientists: $128,020
• Public Relations Specialists: $67,440
• Training and Development Specialists: $63,080