Team FAO,
Like many of you, I am humbled by what a dedicated group of officers has accomplished in standing up this Association — and energized by what lies ahead. To those who have spent the last two-plus years building the Association from the ground up — thank you. What you have created matters. Our mission is sound. Our lines of effort — Quill, Torch, Key, and Sword — are well-conceived and point us toward clear objectives. What remains is execution, and that requires all of us. This is an endeavor that, if we sustain it, will outlast us all serving a cause in which we believe deeply.
As I see it, we have three core constituencies and relationships that matter most:
To our active-duty FAOs and your families (the main effort) — you are doing the job every single day, and we know your time is finite. But your voice is irreplaceable. Without your input, your candor, and your critiques, the Association risks becoming stale and disconnected from the branch it exists to serve. Stay engaged, spread the word, and help us grow.
To our retired FAOs and your families — being a FAO is not something we leave behind. It is part of who we are. Thank you for joining and for volunteering your time and expertise. We are still building this machine, and your ideas and best practices are essential. Please keep them coming.
The relationship that ties all of this together — and that will ultimately determine our ability to serve every one of these stakeholders — is the one between the AFAOA, the FAO Proponent, and HRC. Reinforcing and strengthening that relationship is a top priority.
I am glad to be in this with you. Let’s get to work.
Keith C. Phillips
MG(Ret), USA
Chairman AFAOA