DISAM Assumes Responsibility of International Programs Security Requirements Course - Education And Training

DISAM Journal, Fall, 2001 by Lieutenant Colonel William E. Rimpo

Effective 1 October 2001 DISAM assumed responsibility for the International Programs Security Requirements Course (IPSRC). Register now on line at the DISAM Home Page, http://disam.osd.mil to complete this vital mandatory training.

Why do you need this course?

* A necessity as a matter of national security.

* It is a mandatory requirement for those employed in DoD international programs.

It is a necessity because it is a matter of national security. It is critical for the United States to have strong allies. We have many cooperative programs with our allies as well as appropriate foreign military sales to help ensure their strength. But just as important as it is to have these programs, it is equally important that we protect our sensitive and classified technology and military capabilities. It is vital that every DoD employee involved in international programs understands security arrangements, laws, policies, and procedures that govern foreign involvement in our international programs.

Your attendance is also a mandatory DoD requirement by direction of the previous Deputy Secretary of Defense, Dr. John J. Hamre. Dr. Hamre's letter of October 22, 1999 mandated that all DoD personnel who participate in international activities successfully complete a certified International Programs Security Requirements (IPSR) course. This requirement can be satisfied in one of five ways:

* The International Programs Security Requirements 5-Day Course

* The International Programs Security Requirements 2-Day Course

* The DISAM Security Assistance Management CONUS Course (SAM-C)

* The DISAM SAM Overseas Course (SAM-O)

* The International Programs Security and Technology Transfer Course taught by the Defense Systems Management College

The International Programs Security Requirements 5-Day and 2-Day Courses (IPSRC) were initially developed by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Support (ODUSD(PS)) who was given the charter by the Deputy Secretary of Defense to take the lead in ensuring the requirement was fulfilled as specified in Dr. Hamre's letter. ODUSD(PS) developed a course of instruction that covers International Programs Security and ensures that all applicable employees become fully trained. As the office responsible for implementing the IPS program, ODUSD(PS) has approved the course content of the DISAM's CONUS and Overseas courses as satisfying the DoD requirement.

On October 1, 2001, ODUSD(PS) turned over management of the IPSR 2-Day and 5-Day Courses to DISAM. DISAM will provide all administration and registration of the 2-Day and 5-Day Course. Course instruction for the 5-Day Course will be conducted by a contractor currently on contract with ODUSD(PS). Instruction of the 2-Day Course will be shared between the contractor and DISAM. ODUSD(PS) still maintains oversight of the course, providing all policy decisions on IPSRC course content and requirements for attendance. They also continue to take all necessary actions to ensure IPSRC course attendance by personnel from the military departments and other DoD components.

Now that you know you are in a position that requires your attendance at an IPS course, you want to know "what course is right for me -- SAM-C, SAM-O, IPSR 2-Day Course, or the IPSR 5-Day Course"?

The answer is easy. If you are a mid-level military or DoD civilian newly assigned in a security assistance billet located either in the CONUS or Overseas, then you can satisfy the IPS requirement by attendance in the SAM-C or SAM-O Course. These courses were certified on October 1, 2000 by ODUSD(PS) for the IPS requirement.

You should attend the IPSR 5-Day Course if you are a DoD or other government employee or defense contractor who has "hands-on" involvement in international programs, such as negotiating, managing, executing, or otherwise directly participating in international government or commercial programs (foreign military sales, cooperative research and development, commercial sales, license application review, systems acquisition, foreign contracting, foreign disclosure, international visits and personnel exchanges, program protection, or industrial security).

You should attend the IPSR 2-Day (Short) Course if you are a management-level person or other government or contractor person whose job does not require the depth of instruction presented in the IPSR 5-Day (Long) Course.

So sign up today. Courses are available in fiscal year 2002 at DISAM, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and at many locations across the country. If you have any questions, or would like information about hosting one of the IPS courses at your DoD or contractor location, call Lt Col Bill Rimpo at (937) 255-8187, or e-mail at william.rimpo@disam.dsca.osd.mil.

About the Author

Lieutenant Colonel Bill Rimpo is an instructor of security assistance management at the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management. His duties include functional and course coordinator for the International Program Security Requirements Course and Deputy Director, Academic Support. He graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology with a degree in logistics management in 1986. Lieutenant Colonel Rimpo served in a variety of operations and maintenance positions in the inter continental ballistic missile career field as well as logistics plans in Air Force Materiel Command and Defense Logistics Agency.