DA PAM 600-3: Operations Research / Systems Analysis Functional Area (FA-49)
What Is It
This pamphlet defines policy, guidance, and requirements for the Army’s Functional Area 49 (FA-49) — the Operations Research / Systems Analysis (ORSA) officers. It describes what is expected from ORSA officers, how they are developed, trained, and utilized across the force (Active and Reserve), and what the lifecycle / career path looks like.
Key Sections & Highlights
Introduction
- Outlines the purpose of FA-49: to bring technical and analytic expertise to inform Army decision-making, especially in contexts like Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).
Officer Characteristics Required
- Core traits: Adaptable, grounded in Army values, effective in Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational (JIIM) environments.
- ORSA skills: Modeling, simulation, optimization, statistical inference, data analytics, visualization, and ability to work in technical domains (Cyber, Intelligence, Networks, etc.).
Training / Qualification Requirements
- Undergraduate STEM degree with strong math background (calculus required).
- Minimum GPA and GRE quantitative standards.
- Initial qualification via ORSA Military Applications Course (ORSA-MAC) or a relevant graduate degree (Operations Research, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Systems Engineering, etc.).
- Continuous professional development (graduate study, PhD, fellowships) encouraged to maintain expertise.
Officer Development & Career Path
- Accessions: Usually after company command or key developmental assignments (typically Captains).
- Assignments:
- Tactical/Operational: Division and corps analysis cells, operational test units.
- Strategic: Army Staff, CAA, TRAC, combatant commands.
- Joint/Agency: OSD, Joint Staff, DARPA, and other DoD entities.
- Professional Education: Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS), Senior Service College, and specialized fellowships.
- Provides a detailed lifecycle model of assignments and education from Captain through Colonel.
Reserve Component (RC) Participation
- USAR and ARNG officers may serve as FA-49s, with many leveraging civilian skills or education for equivalency.
- Similar qualification standards apply, though assignment opportunities differ in scope.
Why It Matters
- Ensures ORSA officers meet a consistent technical and educational standard.
- Guides career development, assignments, and promotions within FA-49.
- Builds the Army’s analytic capacity to support strategic decisions, modernization, and resource allocation.