German Army Hosts Multinational DISAM Foreign Purchaser Courses in Historic Hammelburg.

On December 20, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt launched the Great White Fleet to cruise the world's seas and oceans and further the foreign policy of the United States. The Fleet spent much of 1908 at sea, cruising 46,000 nautical miles that year. In fiscal year 2000, DISAM faculty members topped the 46,000 miles traveled by the Great White Fleet, conducting courses in nine countries, and educating students from over 13 countries.

In July, 2000, Dr. Craig Brandt, Director of Research and team leader, and faculty members Stephen Wentworth, MAJ Joanne Hawkins, and LT Paul Dougherty traveled to the quaint northern Bavarian town of Hammelburg, Germany, to offer the DISAM Foreign Purchaser (SAM-F) and Foreign Purchaser Executive (SAM-FE) courses at the storied German Infantry School (Infanterieschule). Germany had agreed to host the course for the NATO allies, and consequently participants came from Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, and Turkey as well as the German forces to learn about U.S. security cooperation programs.

Students were welcomed to the course by Brigadier General Loser, Commanding General of the Infantry School. He provided a brief history of the school and surrounding community, including some interesting tidbits about the use of the school as a prison camp during World War II. He also pointed out the particular appropriateness of holding the course at the Infantry School, given that multinational training such as the United Nations Military Observer Course is hosted at the Infantry School. In addition to classroom instruction on topics of security assistance and international armaments cooperation programs, First Lieutenant Carsten Kossack, the Infantry School liaison officer, demonstrated the German infantry's modem training techniques with a tour of the German Army's unique and historic Bonniand urban combat training facility. The Infantry School also offered an informational program focusing on German and regional culture. Students and faculty learned about Bavarian customs and Franconian viticulture.

On 11 August 2000, twenty-four students were graduated from the Foreign Purchaser and Foreign Purchaser Executive courses. Colonel Jurgen Sengespeik, Chief of Procurement at the Infantry School, presided over the closing ceremonies, congratulating the students for their accomplishments. During the ceremonies, Lieutenant Colonel Klaus Waterholter, a student and representative of the German Air Force Logistics Command, presented certificates of appreciation to the Infantry School support staff. Afterward, the students were awarded their graduation certificates and DISAM commemorative badges.

While the courses were only two and one weeks in duration respectively, nearly six months of careful preparation and coordination were required on the part of DISAM, Mona Jessen of ODC Bonn, and Lieutenant Colonel Karlheinz Mink and Staff Sergeant Dieter Schander of the German Military Logistics Office (Logistikamt der Bundeswehr) to ensure its success. Based on student feedback and critiques, the effort was not in vain.