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

With the increased foreign policy emphasis on Central Asia following September 11, 2001, it was only a matter of time before the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM) was asked to play its small part in bolstering the security relations between the U.S. and the nations of that region. As part of the U.S. efforts in the region, DISAM was asked by U.S. Central Command to rapidly deploy a training team to Almaty, Kazakhstan to train the Kazakh military on U.S. security cooperation programs and procedures.

Lieutenant Colonel William Lahue, USA, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Almaty, requested the mobile education team (MET) to train the largest possible number of Kazakh personnel as rapidly as possible on the policies and procedures involved in U.S. security cooperation efforts. Lieutenant Colonel Lahue, and his budget and training officer, Zhalgas Ospanov, met with DISAM at the CENTCOM training program management review (TPMR) late last spring to make specific arrangements for the course.

Based upon growing cooperative efforts with a variety of nations, Lieutenant Colonel Lahue explained, the Kazakh military had recently established an office to deal specifically with international issues. The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) wanted training for officers assigned to that office, military logistics and training officers from all services, and for senior defense procurement personnel. The goal of the training was an emphasis on proper management of U.S. security assistance funds so that Kazakhs could properly prepare to manage these resources within their overall defense budget. Lieutenant Colonel Lahue also requested that DISAM assist in installation and training of the International Training Management System (I-TMS) software. Use of I-TMS would allow the Kazakh forces to better work with the ODC in management of their growing International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.

Initial DISAM team members Dr. Mark Ahles and Mr. Bob Hanseman arrived in Almaty on July 31st. They worked with the ODC in installing and training the I-TMS software in the Ministry of Defense's new Center for International Programs.

During the week of August 5, 2002 with the addition of Mr. Frank Campanell and Dr. Craig Brandt, DISAM taught the SAM-P Planning and Resource Management Course to twenty-four members of the Kazakh defense forces. In addition, a one-day executive session was held for senior members of the Ministry of Defense, presided over by Major General Bolat Sembinov, Chief of the Apparatus of the Minister of Defense. These courses effectively educated the Kazakh students on the place of foreign military sales process in the context of Kazakh defense planning for material and personnel resources. The military and civilian students came from all the military services and represented the gamut of headquarters and operational units. Translation of the courses was accomplished by the faculty of the Military Linguistics Center of the Center for International Programs within the Ministry of Defense.

Lieutenant Colonel Lahue and Mr. Ospanov, made the arrangements for the course, which was held at the Hotel Premier Alatau where the out-of-town students were housed.

About the Authors

Dr. Craig M. Brandt is the Deputy Commandant of the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management. A retired Navy supply Corps officer, he has 39 years experience in logistics and security assistance. He is the editor of Military Assistance and Foreign Policy. He was awarded a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Cincinnati in 1985. Craig was formerly the Chair, Department of Logistics Management, Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management, Air Force Institute of Technology.

Dr. Mark T. Ahles is the Director of the Directorate of International Studies for the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management. He has previously worked at the National Security Agency, Air Force Logistics Command, and the Air Force Security Assistance Center. Dr. Ahles holds a Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science/Political Science from the Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, Ohio. He holds a reserve commission of Lieutenant Colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard where he serves as State Chemical Officer.