Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management mobile education team returns to Egypt - Brief Article

Over the years, several Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM) mobile education teams (MET) have gone to Egypt. DISAM teams visited Egypt in 1991, 1998, and 2001. This year from February 26 to March 7, DISAM returned to Egypt once again to provide both a Foreign Purchaser Course (SAM-F) and a Foreign Executive Seminar (SAM-FE). The enthusiasm of the DISAM team consisting of Mr. Frank Campanell (Team Chief), Mr. Forrest Smith, Mr. John Clelan, and Navy Lieutenant Dana Clay was heightened by the exceptionally great weather in Cairo during their stay. The 2001 DISAM visit had met with both student and instructor uncomfortableness due to the high June 2001 temperatures.

Both courses were conducted at the Egyptian Armaments Authority Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. Although the courses were primarily for Egyptian Armaments Authority officers involved in foreign military sales (FMS) programs, officers from other Army units as well as representatives from the Egyptian Air Force and Navy involved in FMS attended the courses. The participants for the courses ranged in grade from First Lieutenant to Major General and all grades in between with thirty-six students in the Foreign Purchaser Course and fifteen students in the Foreign Executive Seminar.

Major General Khaled Metwally of the Egyptian Armaments Authority opened the courses by stressing the importance of EMS to the Egyptian military and the need for continued cooperation between the U.S. and Egyptian military forces. General Metwally also participated in the course closing ceremonies congratulating the students on their accomplishments. He and Air Force Major General Moussa presented the outstanding graduate award to Air Force Brigadier General Mohamed Reda Rashed. Unlike most DISAM MET courses, the Egyptian Foreign Purchaser Course students were required to take and pass a final course exam, which all students passed with high marks. During the closing ceremonies, the students were awarded their graduation certificates and the DISAM badge.

General Metwally and the entire administrative staff of the Armaments Authority went out of their way to insure that the DISAM team was well cared for during our visit. In the preparations before the course, MAJ Patrick Walsh, Office of Military Cooperation (OMC) Cairo Training Section worked with DISAM and the Armaments Authority to iron out all of the difficulties in presenting the class. The outstanding support from Ms. Megan Kennett and MM Patrick Walsh, of the OMC Cairo Training Office was very much appreciated. These individuals were responsible for preparing the diplomas, collecting and delivering the training materials and coordinating the training. Hotel accommodations were excellent, and daily transportation to and from the training location was also excellent. Special thanks to MAJ Patrick Walsh, OMC Cairo Training Section, for presenting a lesson on OMC Cairo's role and responsibilities to both classes on the first day and participating in the opening and closing ceremonies. The DISAM team appreci ated OMC support of this event.

Based on DISAM observation and student feedback, the course satisfied the educational objectives of providing students with an overview of the Security Assistance program. The Egyptian Armaments Authority Training coordinator, Brigadier General Abdel Mohsen, requested DISAM conduct an annual MET from now on preferably during the January to March time frame.

The OMC Cairo has already received a formal request for another MET. OMG Cairo requested that future teams include at least two days of advanced meetings with OMC personnel to brief OMC on current FMS issues/procedures and for the team to become familiar with current EG program problems and issues.

About the Author

John C. Clelan has been an assistant professor at the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management for ten years. He also serves as the Financial Functional Coordinator. Prior to coming to DISAM he served as a program manager in the European Division at AFSAC. He holds a B.S. in Business and Management from the University of Maryland, and an MBA in Logistics Management from Wright-State University.

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