State Partner Director Course
 (SPD-I)
(5 Class Days)

Objective

The SPD is designed to provide mid-level security cooperation education and an introduction to security assistance for U.S. military and civilian personnel serving within the DoD State Partnership Program (SPP) community which supports U.S. international security cooperation/assistance programs. The general course objective is to furnish students with a basic understanding of the State Partnership Program, emphasizing security cooperation administration, planning organization, and operations, as well as emphasizing the interaction and constraints of the State Partnership Program with DoD security assistance activities.

Course Description

Instruction is provided on the State Partnership Program and the many and interrelated aspects of the SPP with security assistance and security cooperation activities. These include the role of the Department of State in foreign policy, that of the Department of Defense in national defense, and that of the Congress in the areas of authorization, appropriation, and oversight. The functions and responsibilities of the National Guard Bureau and the State Guard headquarters, the COCOMs, DSCA, and the Military Departments (MILDEPs) are also addressed. The syllabus (below) lists the various topics covered in this course. The emphasis of the curriculum is on the policies and procedures involved in the operational management of security assistance and security cooperation activities within the scope of the State Partnership Program.

Eligibility Criteria

This course is intended for U.S. government personnel who currently occupy, have been selected to occupy, or support National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program positions. Requests for waivers of the above criteria will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Director of International Affairs, National Guard Bureau, J5, JP1 Suite 10300, 1411 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington VA 22202, phone number COMM 703-607-2816, DSN 327-2816.

Applying for Admission

Prospective military and civilian students in the National Guard and other DoD organizations should coordinate their applications through the Director of International Affairs, National Guard Bureau, J5, JP1 Suite 10300, 1411 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington VA 22202, phone number COMM 703-607-2816, DSN 327-2816 and submit their applications directly to DISAM at e-mail registrars@disam.dsca.mil, FAX COMM: (937) 255-3441, DSN: 785-3441, or mail to DISAM/DAS, Building 52, 2475 K Street, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7641.

A DD Form 1556 is not required for this course. Each student is required to submit a student registration application for this course; see reproducible example at the DISAM web site.  Please also go to Student Information Guide on the DISAM website for more in-depth information about DISAM.

Funding for attendance will be coordinated through the Director of International Affairs, National Guard Bureau, J5.

Course Offerings

Security Clearance

No security clearance is required to attend the course. A security clearance of Secret is required to review COCOM and Embassy plans.

Classes and Hours

SPD classes are held daily, except Saturdays, Sundays, and U.S. holidays. They are normally scheduled between 0800 and 1630, with appropriate periods for research and study. The course will be completed by 1230 on Friday. Commercial airline departures may be scheduled after 1400. Early departures are not authorized except in a bona fide emergency.

Syllabus

The course is divided into 5 phases:

• Organization and structure of SPP related agencies
• State Partnership Program activities and responsibilities
• Security Assistance practices
• Regional studies
• Student evaluation

The syllabus which follows is organized to reflect daily classroom activities. Each lesson is identified by title, general content, and number of classroom hours. The course of instruction will include a combination of lectures, practical exercises, and class discussions.

Day 1

Administrative Orientation and Course Introduction. Covers basic DISAM operating policies and procedures, in-processes students, and provides an orientation to course subjects, class materials, and student requirements. 1 hour.

Introduction to State Partnership Program. Examines how the National Guard’s State Partnership Program was originally created and why. Examines how the State Partnership Program directly contributes to the National Security Strategy, National Military Strategy, Combatant Command theater security plans, and US Embassy performance plans. Explores state specific areas for meeting individual state objectives by linking inter-agency processes to the SPP via a facilitation or enabler role. 2 hours.

The U.S. Embassy Country Team, Interagency, and Security Assistance Organization Roles and Responsibilities. Examines the organization, responsibilities, and working relationships of the US Embassy and Country Team, the Security Assistance Organization (SAO) and Unified Commands, and describes the various factors which impact upon overseas operations. 2 hours.

Introduction to International Security Cooperation. Examines how security assistance and security cooperation and other engagement programs play a major role in supporting U.S. National Security, National Military, Unified Command and Department of State strategic objectives. Discusses the use of the military as an element of national power and a political-military tool in the implementation of security assistance programs. Describes the general nature and scope of currently authorized security assistance and security cooperation programs. 1 hour.

Combatant Command Seminar.  Examines the missions and challenges of regional combatant commands and addresses their role in security assistance and security cooperation, as well as their role in supporting the State Partnership Program. 1.5 hours.

Day 2

SPP Administration Procedures. Detailed overview of the State Partnership Program Guide. Also examines how SPP Directors/Coordinators interact and develop state program objectives and coordinate activities between COCOM and Embassy POCs. 3 hours.

Security Cooperation Planning.  Reviews the framework of national security goals and policy documents and shows how SAOs support those objectives. Introduces the key planning tools for security assistance and security cooperation management. Discusses the importance of resource management for the host nation and, where appropriate, for USG and host nation resources to work in synergy in the areas of training, force modernization, and sustainment. 2 hours.

Legislation and Policy. Addresses the role of the Congress in authorizations, appropriations, and oversight. Discusses the sources of security assistance and security cooperation legislation. 2 hours

Day 3

SPP Programs.  Examines other DoD, DoS, and civilian programs which could be used to broaden and deepen partner interaction. Examples are Education, medical, economic and other related areas. 3 hours.

SPP Operations Implementation.  Review of states Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) and synchronization efforts – homework. This will be geared toward developing and submitting your annual plan with examples of submission packets for use of Military Aircraft, Office of Defense Cooperation personnel support packets (e.g. Bilateral Affairs Officer (BAO)), and other case studies. 3 hours.

Ethics.  Examines personal responsibilities to access of government information and ethical challenges as a civilian or state employee. 1 hour.

Day 4

Foreign Military Sales Overview.  Provides an overview of the entire life cycle of the Foreign Military Sales process, beginning with the purchaser's request for a defense item or service. Includes discussion on the FMS "process", to include the various types of FMS cases. Also examines the execution of FMS cases, the role of selected logistics activities, and logistics programs such as Total Package Approach and follow-on logistics support. 2 hours.

International Defense Education and Training Management.  Examines security assistance training management policies and procedures, including objectives, types of training, locations, constraints, pricing policies, the DoD Informational Program (DoDIP), and program administration. 1.5 hours.

End Use Monitoring.  Provides an overview of the legal requirements, policies, and procedures for the transfer, disposal, and end-use monitoring of U.S.-origin equipment and services, with emphasis on the responsibilities of the SAO and host nation. Introduces the DoD Golden Sentry program for government-to-government transfers and also addresses the State Department Blue Lantern program for direct commercial sales. 1 hour.

Regional Seminar. Examines the security cooperation programs of specific regional combatant commands. 2 hours.

Day 5

International Technology Transfer and Export Controls and International Programs Security. Provides an overview of licensing procedures, technology issues, and National Disclosure Policy, with a general background concerning U.S. policy in regard to export controls. Discusses the DoD policy and procedures of International Program Security as it pertains to international transfer of classified and controlled material, international visits by foreign nationals to the U.S., and protection of NATO classified information. 2 hours.

Final Exam and Course Critique. 2 hours.

Graduation and Closing Remarks. 0.5 hour.

Last revised: 07/16/2009