Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management mobile education team travels to Algeria.

Located on the Mediterranean coast between Morocco and Tunisia, and also bordering Libya, The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is the second-largest country in Africa; more than three times the size of Texas. Algeria is a strong supporter of, and an important partner in, the Global War on Terrorism. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation have intensified between Algeria and the United States. Algeria has publicly condemned the terrorist attacks on the United States, and is seeking greater ties to the U.S. via military assistance in the form of training and hardware.

It comes as no surprise that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the European Command (EUCOM), and the U.S. Defense Attache to Algeria urged the Algerians to host a DISAM Mobile Education Team (MET) to provide instruction in security assistance to members of the Algerian military. Bob Hanseman, Ken Martin and Joanne Hawkins conducted a week-long Foreign Purchaser Course and a half-day Executive Seminar to the Algerians during the last week of February 2003. The courses were conducted in state-of-the-art facilities at the National Preparatory College of Engineering Studies in Rouiba, outside Algiers for 30 mid-career officers and 11 senior officers. The courses were taught in English and translated into French through local interpreters.

Algeria is a cash customer, and receives no foreign military financing (FMF) from the United States. However, in recent years, the U.S. has approved funds to Algeria under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. Fiscal year 2003 saw an increase in IMET funding to $550,000 from $67,000 in fiscal year 2002. This funding will be used for professional officer training at the war colleges and at the command and general staff colleges, as well as for English language training and equipment. The U.S. Department of Defense is developing an expanded exercise plan with Algeria, and Algeria has hosted U.S. Naval ship visits and has begun a series of joint naval exercises. (1) The State Department's objective of the security assistance program is to assist Algeria in developing the expertise needed for effective management of its defense forces and to foster Algeria's development of an internal training capability. (2)

The bulk of Algeria's military equipment is of Soviet origin. Algeria is now in the process of diversifying its sources of military material and updating its military forces with new weapons systems. Between 1997 and 1999 Algeria imported about $1.2 billion in arms from Eastern Europe, Russia and the United States. The Algerians are cooperating with the United States in the Global War on Terrorism, and in exchange have requested American weapons systems such as military vehicles, aircraft spare parts, and night vision goggles. Algeria has been buying American military equipment mostly through direct commercial sales (DCS) since the mid-1980s. Major DCS purchases included one hundred high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) from AM General, a border air surveillance system with TPS-70 radar from Northrop Grumman, and eight Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft. (3)

The DISAM course graduation received high-level attention from both the U.S. and Algerian governments. U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, the Honorable Janet A. Sanderson, and Brigadier General Baaziz, Algerian Chief of Staff for Operations and Training presented diplomas to the 30 military graduates. The U.S. Defense Attache, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel John Hannon, expressed his enthusiasm for building a strong security assistance relationship with Algeria.

(1.) U.S. Department of State, Background Note; Algeria, February 2002.

(2.) U.S. Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification, Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2003.

(3.) Foreign Military Markets, Middle East and Africa, 1st Quarter 2003.

About the Author

Mrs. Joanne Hawkins is the logistics functional coordinator and Army seminar leader at the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management. A retired Army Quartermaster officer, she has nine years experience in security assistance. Mrs. Hawkins holds a Master of Education degree from Campbell University, North Carolina and a Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.