Specialized schools for partner forces

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1. Five specialized institutions

Besides the service academies, title 10 names five specialized programs and schools that train partner personnel. Three belong to the Air Force: a pilot training program and two regional academies. One is a college the Defense Department supports on behalf of the Western Hemisphere. One is a naval school for small craft. Each section sets out who may attend, what the United States may provide, and how the costs are met.

2. The Aviation Leadership Program

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force may carry out an Aviation Leadership Program (10 U.S.C. 348(a)). It provides undergraduate pilot training, and necessary related training, to personnel of the air forces of friendly, developing foreign countries. The training must include language training and programs promoting awareness and understanding of American democratic institutions and social framework.

The Air Force may support trainees generously. It may provide transportation incident to the training, supplies and equipment used during it, flight clothing and other special clothing, and billeting, food and health services (10 U.S.C. 348(b)(1)). It may authorize the Air Force expenditures it considers necessary to maintain the program efficiently and effectively (10 U.S.C. 348(b)(2)). A living allowance may be paid, at a rate that takes account of allowances for American service members in similar circumstances (10 U.S.C. 348(c)).

3. The Inter-American Air Forces Academy

The Secretary of the Air Force may operate the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (10 U.S.C. 349(a)). It provides military education and training to military personnel of Central and South American countries, Caribbean countries, and other countries eligible for assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Two limits apply (10 U.S.C. 349(b)). Training may be provided only with the concurrence of the Secretary of State. And it may not be provided to the military personnel of a country that another law prohibits from receiving that type of assistance. The Academy’s fixed operating and maintenance costs may be paid from Air Force operation and maintenance funds (10 U.S.C. 349(c)).

4. The Inter-European Air Forces Academy

A parallel academy serves Europe and Africa. The Secretary of the Air Force may operate the Inter-European Air Forces Academy (10 U.S.C. 350(a)). Its purpose is military education and training for personnel of NATO members and of signatories to the Partnership for Peace Framework Documents. It also serves countries within the area of responsibility of United States Africa Command that are eligible for assistance under the same Foreign Assistance Act chapter (10 U.S.C. 350(b)).

The same two limits apply: the Secretary of State’s concurrence, and no training for personnel of a country barred by other law (10 U.S.C. 350(c)). The Air Force may provide transportation incident to the training, supplies and equipment, and billeting, food and health services (10 U.S.C. 350(d)). It may also pay a living allowance on the same basis as the Aviation Leadership Program (10 U.S.C. 350(e)). Operations and the training itself may be paid from Air Force operation and maintenance funds (10 U.S.C. 350(f)).

5. The Inter-American Defense College

The Inter-American Defense College is supported rather than operated by the Department. The Secretary of Defense may authorize service members and Department civilians to take part in operating and supporting the College. The Secretary may also provide it logistic support, supplies and services, including use of Department facilities and equipment (10 U.S.C. 351(a)). The aims are to help the College offer advanced courses on military and defense issues and the inter-American system to officers and officials of member states of the Organization of American States. They also include ensuring its program matches the quality of Department senior service colleges and promotes security cooperation, human rights, disaster response, peacekeeping and democracy.

Support rests on an agreement. With the Secretary of State’s concurrence, the Secretary of Defense must conclude a memorandum of understanding with the Inter-American Defense Board (10 U.S.C. 351(b)). If Department facilities, equipment or funds are used, it must describe any cost-sharing or funding arrangement, and it must include a curriculum and a plan for academic program development.

Operation and maintenance funds may pay the costs of participation and host nation support (10 U.S.C. 351(c)(1)). These include participants’ expenses, qualified professors, instructors and lecturers, and curriculum support. They also include translation and interpretation, information and educational technology, utilities, and facility maintenance and repair. Funds may not pay the salaries of participating service members and civilians (10 U.S.C. 351(c)(2)). Reimbursement may be waived for developing countries where that is in the national security interest (10 U.S.C. 351(d)).

6. The Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School

The Secretary of Defense must operate this school, through a military department Secretary designated as executive agent (10 U.S.C. 352(a) and 10 U.S.C. 352(b)). It provides partner military and security forces with naval small craft instruction and training under other provisions of law, and aims to increase professionalism, readiness and respect for human rights (10 U.S.C. 352(c)). Instruction is by formal courses or mobile training teams. It covers operating, employing, maintaining and supporting specialized equipment, taking part in joint exercises or coalition operations, and improving interoperability with American forces.

Personnel of a country barred by other law may not be trained (10 U.S.C. 352(d)). Fixed costs may be paid from Navy operation and maintenance funds, equipment from Navy procurement funds, and facilities construction from Navy military construction funds (10 U.S.C. 352(e)(1)). Food services and the dining facility are also paid from operation and maintenance (10 U.S.C. 352(e)(2)). "Tuition fees charged for personnel who attend the School may not include any amount for the fixed costs of operating and maintaining the School" (10 U.S.C. 352(e)(3)). A detailed report on activities and operating costs is due by March 15 each year (10 U.S.C. 352(f)).

7. Common threads

Three features recur. The Secretary of State’s concurrence is required to train at the two air forces academies, and underpins the College’s memorandum of understanding. Training is barred for personnel of countries prohibited by other law at both air forces academies and the small craft school. And the fixed costs are met from American appropriations: Air Force funds for the pilot program and the academies, Navy funds for the small craft school, and Defense Department operation and maintenance funds for the College. The service academies follow different rules, described in foreign cadets at the service academies.

Key terms

Aviation Leadership Program	Air Force undergraduate pilot training for personnel of friendly, developing countries’ air forces.
Inter-American Air Forces Academy	An Air Force school for military personnel of the Americas and other eligible countries.
Inter-European Air Forces Academy	An Air Force school for NATO, Partnership for Peace and eligible Africa Command countries.
Inter-American Defense College	A college for officers and officials of Organization of American States member states, which the Defense Department may staff and support.
Fixed costs	Operating and maintenance costs that tuition at the small craft school may not include.

Every statement above links to the document behind it. The full source list for this piece is on the sources page.

This page describes public United States government programs for general information. It is not legal, regulatory or procurement advice, and it does not address the facts of any particular case.

How Sentfore supports this

Specialized training for partner forces depends on equipment, people and supplies arriving where courses run. Sentfore works at the delivery end of defense programs in difficult environments, providing secure movement, protective security, facilities and life support. Requirements can be sent through the contact page.