Posted on: 6/26/2023
From June 12-14, 2023, fifty-two Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) students attended the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) SCO Operational Engagements Course (Briefings and
Consultations) in the National Capital Region. The course focuses on students building key relationships for their in-country SCO assignments, where they represent the Department of Defense to allies and partners on Security Cooperation and Assistance programs.
The Fundamentals and Application of SCO Operations Course and the SCO Operational Engagements Course (Briefings and Consultations) ensure SCO personnel receive the education and make the contacts needed to be that vital link between U.S. whole-of-government Security Cooperation efforts and Partner Nations. The two courses combine into a seven-week training program during which students glean knowledge from lectures, group work, and practical exercises while hearing from dozens of guest speakers and experts including senior military and policy leaders, ambassadors, academics, and Security Cooperation practitioners.
The first day in the NCR Dr. Celeste Gventer, DSCU President, welcomed the students and discussed future Security Cooperation initiatives, to include the forthcoming Defense Security Cooperation Service (DSCS). This was followed by discussions with students’ respective Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Country Portfolio and Financial counterparts. Finally, the students met with country desk officers from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation (DASA DE&C).
The second day visit to the State Department students met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Security, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Mira Resnick and members from the Bureau of Political Military Affairs to include the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (RSAT) and the Office of Security Assistance (SA).
The final day, spent at the Pentagon and Navy Yard, consisted of meetings with Joint Staff members, desk officers from the Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs (SAF/IA), and the Navy International Programs Office (NIPO). During the NIPO visit, Rear Admiral Rossi, provided insights into his organization's priorities and ways for the SCO's to successfully engage with their foreign counterparts.
The growing importance of Security Cooperation as a tool of national security demonstrates the criticality of SCO personnel at U.S. embassies. DSCU works to ensure SCO personnel have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop and sustain key relationships, assist partners in determining how to address capability and capacity gaps, and translate partner requirements into actionable Security Cooperation initiatives.