Defense Media Network

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Today

An overview of security cooperation programs

Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) – DIILS is organized as a directorate within DSCA and coordinates with stakeholders – such as the OUSD(P), GCCs, and U.S. Embassy staff – to ensure programs align with U.S. strategic objectives and priorities. DIILS provides expertise through resident courses and mobile education teams on more than 250 legal topics, with an emphasis on disciplined military operations. DIILS is located in Newport, R.I.

DIILS serves as the lead defense SC resource for global professional legal education, training, and rule of law engagement for international military and related civilians. Its goal is to build partner legal capacity and promote equitable, transparent, and accountable security sectors, civilian control of the military, compliance with human rights standards and democratically elected governments through mobile engagement teams (METs), resident courses, and other engagements.

For additional help or information, including the complete DIILS catalog, news, and recent events, see www.diils.org, email DIILSinfo@dsca.mil, call 01-401-841-6000.

Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC)HDTC is the U.S. government focal point for mine action training. The center is located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and is a component of DSCA. The center provides training and subject-matter expertise for the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) Program. The HDTC’s primary mission is to train U.S. military personnel in accordance with International Mine Action Standards to assist mine-affected countries in establishing and building a self-sustained, indigenous HMA capacity. Training covers both HMA and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), with special emphasis on mine clearance, mine risk education, management of mine action and the U.N.-approved Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA).

Emergency relief supplies flown into the airport are trucked to a nearby warehouse at Tacloban Task Force Headquarters and sorted, Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines, Nov. 16, 2013. From here, the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development - the lead local agency in charge of aid distribution - got the commodities out to municipalities affected by Typhoon Haiyan. USAID photo by Carol Han

Emergency relief supplies flown into the airport are trucked to a nearby warehouse at Tacloban Task Force Headquarters and sorted, Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines, Nov. 16, 2013. From here, the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development – the lead local agency in charge of aid distribution – got the commodities out to municipalities affected by Typhoon Haiyan. USAID photo by Carol Han

Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS)APCSS is a DoD institute located in Hawaii that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, most from the United States and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive courses, professional exchanges, and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The center supports U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) by developing and sustaining relationships among security practitioners and national security establishments throughout the region. Its mission is to build capacities and communities of interest by connecting and empowering security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security.

It is one of five Regional Security Studies Centers managed by DSCA. Since opening in 1995, APCSS has had representatives from 104 countries and territories and seven international organizations attend courses at the center for a total of more than 8,000 alumni.

Africa Center for Strategic Studies (Africa Center) – The Africa Center, located in Washington, D.C., is the pre-eminent DoD institution for strategic security studies, research, and outreach in Africa. The Africa Center engages African partner states and institutions through rigorous academic and outreach programs that build strategic capacity and foster long-term, collaborative relationships.

The center supports U.S. foreign and security policies by strengthening the strategic capacity of African states to identify and resolve security challenges in ways that promote civil-military cooperation, respect for democratic values, and safeguard human rights. DSCA serves as executive agent for the center.

The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies (Marshall Center) – Headquartered in Germany, the goal of the Marshall Center is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships, especially in the field of defense, promoting active and peaceful security cooperation, and enhancing enduring partnerships among the nations of North America, Europe and Eurasia. DSCA serves as executive agent for the center.

Officials from more than 110 nations have attended some of the numerous programs conducted at the Marshall Center, most taught in English and Russian. The Marshall Center’s resident programs have a long-term academic focus, while non-resident programs focus on current issues and problem-solving. Many of the Marshall Center’s more than 9,500 alumni include senior policymakers and military officers and career civil servants in dozens of partner nation ministries.

William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (Perry Center) – The Perry Center, located at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., is named in honor of William J. Perry, the 19th U.S. Secretary of Defense, to whom the Perry Center’s creation is attributed. DSCA serves as the executive agent for the Perry Center. The center’s operational concept includes:

  • outreach, research, and knowledge-sharing activities on defense and international security policy-making with military and civilian leaders of the Western Hemisphere;
  • advancing international security policy and defense decision-making processes;
  • fostering partnerships and promoting effective civil-military relations in democratic societies;
  • contributing to a cooperative international security environment and mutual understanding of priority U.S. and regional defense and international security policy issues; and
  • conducting activities for civilians and the military in the Western Hemisphere to enhance partner capacity and foster trust, mutual understanding and regional cooperation.

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J.R. Wilson has been a full-time freelance writer, focusing primarily on aerospace, defense and high...