The Czech Republic welcomes the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management mobile education team.

In Prague, Czech Republic, from October 7-11, 2002, the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM) taught a one-week Foreign Purchasers Class. In addition to twenty Czech students, the Ministry of Defense had also invited neighboring countries to participate in the course, and five students from the Republic of Slovakia and two from Slovenia also attended the course. The DISAM team included Frank Campanell, Bob Hanseman, Craig Brandt and MSgt Todd Osborne, USAF. The course was opened by Ing. Jindrich Ploch, National Armaments Director of the Ministry of Defense, who also hosted the class social in the Officers' Club on the first evening of the class. His remarks centered on the Czech Republic's admission to North Atlantic Treaty Organization and how its new responsibilities would require closer ties to the U.S. security assistance programs.

Jan Vrbik and Olga Houskova of the Armaments Directorate were the hosts for the class and for the DISAM team. They worked closely with Jana Hierschova, IMET coordinator for ODC Prague, to insure that the class went smoothly and that all the needs of the students were met. Through the efforts of these individuals, the class went off without a hitch.

At the graduation ceremony, Lt Col Timothy Ondracek, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation Prague and Ing. Milan Bajtos, Deputy Director of the Department of Armaments, were the featured speakers. Both commented on the value of the class in assisting the Ministry of Defense to procure material and training from the United States.