59 majors, captains selected for regional affairs strategist program Published Feb. 24, 2015 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Air Force officials selected 59 majors and captains for duty as regional affairs strategists, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today. Officers selected for RAS duty will get their language and region assignments in the spring. RAS is a force development initiative intended to create a cadre of officers with in-depth regional expertise, and is open to Airmen with 7-10 years of commissioned service. "RAS participants have an opportunity to develop international insight, foreign language proficiency, and cultural understanding," said Maj. Katie Tanner, international affairs assignments chief. "Once they complete appropriate training, RAS officers will fill international, political-military focused assignments. Their international and regional experience and language skills, combined with existing operational skills, help us build partnerships with allied and coalition forces, which is an Air Force core competency." Most officers selected for the program will earn an advanced academic degree, learn a foreign language, and serve a six month immersion among several countries within their assigned region. Language requirements vary, Tanner said. Requirements exist for officers proficient in Russian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi and more. "Completing a graduate degree and learning a second language are intensive time commitments away from their core community, so we need committed, focused Airmen who are ready for some hard work," she said. For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one at www.retirees.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120510-068.pdf.