They can be commissioned at any rank from captain to colonel based on the board results. Candidates are vetted by an assessment board based on their education and experience. Interested candidates apply directly to the Army Space Personnel Development Office. This new initiative allows the Army to acquire “war winning talent.” This program allows civilians with specific, highly specialized, space-related skills and education to be directly appointed as a commissioned officer in the Army as a space operations officer. Reference: Army Regulation (AR) 614–100 Assignments, Details, and Transfers Officer Assignment Policies, Details, and Transfers.Army means to balance officer year group strength while matching officer desires, qualifications and abilities.Must meet the requirements in the VTIP military personnel message.Primary officer method to transfer into a functional area.Begin process for top secret/sensitive compartmented information clearance.No Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program.Selected cadets w/science, technical, engineering and mathematics degrees will be assured a transfer into FA 40 space operations at the four-year point of their career.

Commissioned into an operational basic branch.A “branch detailing” program for Functional Area 40.There are three basic pathways to become an FA40: Assured Functional Area Transfer (AFAT), Voluntary Career Transfer Incentive Program (VTIP) and direct commissioning.

Assured conveyance