I worked in southern Afghanistan for a year as a U.S. Department of State (DOS) political advisor at a PRT and I just completed a tour as a mobilized reservist in Iraq working as the tribal/leadership engagement officer for a SEAL Team in the Fallujah area. I've seen a lot of the "deployed" DOS, a lot of whom I liked and a lot I didn't, but here's what I found that worked the best in terms of skills and attributes.

1. Physically fit
2. Knows how to operate firearms
3. Is a team player both inside and outside the wire
4. Is personally brave
5. Knows first aid, communications, military culture, and military operations
6. Sees their job as trying to defeat the insurgency and not just reporting on it.
7. Prefers to be outside the wire than inside it.
8. Shows constant initiative
9. Builds governing institutions, facilitates development and reconstruction, creates situational awareness among military units
10. Isn't shy about advocating U.S. interests
11. Isn't professionally afraid to say something is screwed up
12. Lacks arrogance
13. Is realistic about what can be done
14. Looks to achieve concrete results and measures progress to achieve those goals
15. Is an anthropologist, political scientist, ward boss, mayor, city manager, and political leader
16. Doesn't whine.

I'm sure I could add more but this is a start.

-Dan