D E P A R T M E N T O F T H E N A V Y
O F F I C E O F T H E S E C R E T A R Y
1 0 0 0 N A V Y P E N T A G O N
W A S H I N G T O N D C 2 0 3 5 0 - 1000
SECNAVINST 1301.7B
DUSN (P)
06 Apr 2023
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1301.7B
From: Secretary of the Navy
Subj: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FOREIGN AREA OFFICER PROGRAMS
Ref: (a) DoD Instruction 1315.20 of 25 March 2022
(b) DoD Instruction 5160.70 of 30 December 2016
(c) DoD Directive 5160.41E of 21 August 2015
Encl: (1) Responsibilities
1. Purpose. To establish policy governing Department of the
Navy (DON) Foreign Area Officer (FAO) programs and implement
Department of Defense (DoD) references (a) through (c).
2. Cancellation. SECNAVINST 1301.7A.
3. Applicability. This instruction applies to the Offices of
the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Chief of Naval
Operations (CNO), the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), and
all United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps
(USMC) installations, commands, activities, field offices, and
all other organizational entities within the DON (collectively
referred to in this instruction as “DON components”).
4. Policy
a. To achieve national security objectives and continued
success in current and future operations, the DON must be
prepared to conduct and support military operations with an
expanding number of coalition partners in a diverse set of
geopolitical conditions around the world. Success in these
operations, and on the asymmetric battlefields of the future,
requires specialized officers with a sophisticated understanding
of the international security environment. Navy and USMC FAOs
maintain professional military skills and understanding of
Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) at high levels
of proficiency. FAOs provide these critical war fighting
capabilities to influence plans and operations, build and
