Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management training initiatives for international customers

DISAM Journal, Wntr, 2003 by Mark T. Dr. Ahles

DISAM has been conducting courses for our international partners for over twenty years. The material presented in these courses range from broad, introductory topics to focused, advanced information. Traditionally, DISAM has offered three options for introductory training to our international partners:

* Resident training at DISAM, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio which have focused on an introductory cradle-to-grave review of all security assistance programs with an emphasis on foreign military sales (FMS).

* Mobile education teams (METs) training at a customer's location which have offered a curriculum similar to the resident course with flexibility to focusing training on specific security assistance subjects of interest to the students.

* To review U.S. programs in a specific U.S. military regional Unified Command.

Advanced security assistance training, however has been limited to mobile education team (MET) training on specific subjects of interest. These METs typically are taught to 30-40 students from one interested nation. Occasionally, a group of geographically neighboring nations with similar training needs would request a regional MET on advanced topics of interest. DISAM has never regularly scheduled such advanced training as part of our normally offered courses.

Last spring, the Foreign Procurement Group (FPG) visited DISAM. (The Foreign Procurement Group is a Washington, D.C. based organization consisting of foreign procurement personnel responsible for managing their nation's security assistance programs.) While applauding DISAM's current introductory course (SAM-F), they had three specific requests for additional training to foreign customers.

First, the FPG asked that DISAM consider offering a regionally focused one week security assistance overview course. Such a course would not offer the detailed information presented in SAM-F, but would add background on U.S. security cooperation efforts in a specific region. Attendance would be focused on mid to senior level procurement personnel with an interest in a short course covering the basic processes of the FMS system.

The second FPG request concerned a need for advanced FMS training. A number of FPG members had previously received advanced training METs. These countries had a continuing need for a small number of students to continue to receive such training, but could not regularly amass the thirty students required for a DISAM MET. Other FPG members had interest in such training, but never would need more than 2-3 students trained in a given year

The final request was for on-line training to introduce new personnel to the security assistance process.

Based upon these requests, DISAM is testing the curriculum changes discussed in the remainder of this article.

DISAM International Courses to Be Offered in Germany during July 2004 Security Assistance Management - Foreign Purchaser Orientation (SAM-OF, MASL D262706, 80 ECL required)

The course is designed to meet the educational requirements of mid to senior level security assistance partners who do not need the in-depth coverage of the SAM-F course.

This course has three objectives:

* To provide a brief overview of the entire security assistance management system to include legislation, policy, planning and programming, finance, transportation, logistics, and training management.

* To provide an understanding of the FMS process in comparison to direct commercial sales with the U.S. defense industry.

* To review U.S. programs in a specific U.S. military regional unified command.

The overview will prove very beneficial to managers of personnel who perform the technical and administrative details associated with security assistance.

SAM-OF is intended to be offered only once each year. The course will be held regionally, to increase the possibility that nearby senior officials will be able to attend. Course costs will vary due to changing class size and location, but should be approximately $500-$l000 (or $1000-$2000 if including lodging).

Security Assistance Management--Advanced International Logistics (SAM-IL, MASL D251302, 80 ECL required)

This course is designed to provide overseas personnel who are directly involved in or concerned with foreign military sales (FMS) requisitions and materiel movement with a comprehensive understanding and application of the policies, procedures, systems and actions necessary to move FMS materiel from its initial requisition to its shipment to the customer's final destination. The objective is to understand the functions of key organizations involved in materiel distribution, to include the International Logistics Control Organizations (ILCOs), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), contractors and freight forwarders. Students will understand the proper procedures for submitting requisitions, how to read delivery documents, and other important FMS logistical documents.

Previous attendance at SAM-F and at least six months of security assistance experience is highly encouraged. Previous completion of SAM-F, SAM-OF, or SAM-OC is required.