Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management Presents Foreign Purchaser Course and Senior Executive Seminar in Ankara, Turkey.

Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management faculty members Robert Hanseman, Frank Campanell, Lt Col Karen Currie, USAF, and Lieutenant Paul Dougherty, USN, traveled to Ankara, Turkey, to teach two DISAM courses from 24 April to 4 May 2001. A total of 44 students attended the Foreign Purchaser (SAM-F) and Foreign Purchaser Executive Course (SAM-FE) at the conference center at the Land Forces Logistics Command Headquarters in Ankara. Lieutenant Colonel Muzaffer Yuksel, the Logistics Command liaison officer, made all of the arrangements for the courses and provided outstanding support to the DISAM team. Brigadier General Saim Demirel, the Logistics Command Chief of Staff, welcomed the students and instructors on the first morning of the SAM-F course and conducted the combined graduation ceremony for both courses on 4 May 2001. Lieutenant General Kamuran Orhon, the Logistics Command Commander, hosted a luncheon for the DISAM team during the first week of the course. Captain Craig Galloway, USN, Deputy C hief of the U.S Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), Ankara, provided an overview of ODC activities and active Turkish FMS cases to the SAM-F course.

Both of the courses were conducted in English. Highly motivated, the students were military and civilian members of all of the Turkish military services. Many of the class members already had an excellent understanding of U.S. foreign military sales procedures. A number of students had attended other courses in the United States and several officers were preparing for liaison jobs in the United States. The students and instructors enjoyed lively discussions on a wide variety of foreign military sales issues. It was a useful and memorable educational experience for everyone involved. Major Gokhan Tokus, Turkish Land Forces, did a great job as class leader and ensured the courses ran smoothly. We also had excellent transportation and administrative support from several enlisted members of the Turkish Land Forces. The Land Forces Logistics Command conference center was extremely modem and comfortable.

Teaching two courses halfway around the world from your home station always presents great challenges. But members of the ODC Turkey made it very easy for the DISAM team. Our special thanks go to Captain Tom McGuire, USAF, and Major Irfan Karagoz, Turkish Air Force, for their tremendous efforts. They made all of the necessary arrangements with the Turkish military, as well as arranging social events and weekend sightseeing trips for the DISAM team. We cannot thank them enough for their hard work, good humor, and hospitality.

In summary, we believe the educational objectives of the DISAM Mobile Education Team visit to Turkey were successfully accomplished, and we hope that we also strengthened the ties of friendship between the U.S. and Turkey. We look forward to a return visit, and hope to see more Turkish students in our DISAM resident courses