U.S. Security Assistance Programs

The Security Assistance Monitor tracks all available data about U.S. programs that supply security assistance, arms sales, and training worldwide. The table below lists the principal programs that makeup or have made up that U.S. assistance.

ProgramProgram Description
Afghan Security Forces FundThe Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) is a Defense Department program that provides assistance to the security forces of Afghanistan.

Aviation Leadership ProgramThe Aviation Leadership Program is a Defense Department program that provides undergraduate education and training to personnel of friendly, less-developed foreign air forces.  
Coalition Support FundsCoalition Support Funds (CSF) refers to money from the Defense Emergency Response Fund (DERF) that is eligible to be used to reimburse coalition partners for logistical and military support to U.S. military operations.
Combating Terrorism Fellowship ProgramFunded through the Defense Department, the Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program (CTFP) provides funding for “foreign military officers to attend U.S. military educational institutions and selected regional centers for non-lethal training.”
Cooperative Threat ReductionThe Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program, housed within the Defense Department, was created to secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction and associated infrastructure in the former Soviet states.
Counter-Islamic State in Iraq and Syria Train and Equip FundThis new Defense Department-funded program is a consolidation of the Syria Train and Equip Fund and the Iraq Train and Equip Fund as a result of the FY2017 NDAA. Like the previous programs, the new program will seek to counter ISIS by supporting the Iraqi security forces and vetted Syrian rebels.
Counterterrorism Partnerships FundThe Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund provides support and assistance to foreign security forces or other groups or individuals to conduct, support, or facilitate counterterrorism and crisis response activities pursuant to section 1534 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015
Defense Institute of International Legal StudiesThe Defense Institute of International Legal Studies enables the Department of Defense to promote institutional legal capacity through resident courses and mobile activities.
Defense Institution Reform InitiativeThe Defense Institution Reform Initiative enables the Department of Defense to engage with partner nations in their efforts to develop accountable, effective, and efficient defense governance institutions.
Department of Homeland Security – U.S. Coast Guard ActivitiesThrough the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard provides training and technical assistance to U.S. government agencies or foreign nationals on topics ranging from maritime law enforcement to port security.
Developing Country Combined Exercise ProgramThe Developing Country Combined Exercise Program authorizes the Department of Defense to reimburse developing countries for certain incremental expenses, excluding normal pay and benefits, incurred when participating in a bilateral or multilateral military exercise with U.S. forces.
Emergency DrawdownsIf an unforeseen emergency should arise overseas, the Emergency Drawdown authorities empower the U.S. President to transfer U.S. defense articles and services from existing U.S. government holdings, budgets or arsenals to the affected area within certain limitations.
European Deterrence InitiativeThe European Deterrence Initiative, a Department of Defense-funded program, increases U.S. capabilities to deter and defend against Russian aggression, further galvanize U.S. support to the collective defense of NATO Allies, and bolster the security and capacity of our U.S. partners.
Excess Defense ArticlesThe Excess Defense Articles authority allows the U.S. government to transfer used U.S. defense equipment from U.S. military stockpiles to foreign security forces. Separated by the Security Assistance Monitor, equipment provided under this heading only includes Excess Defense Articles that the United States gave to foreign countries.
Exchange TrainingJoint Combined Exchange Trainings (JCET) are military exercises that provide training for American Special Operations Forces (SOF) in friendly foreign countries alongside the armed forces of the host nation.
Foreign Military FinancingThe Foreign Military Financing program provides grants and loans to help countries purchase U.S.-made defense articles and defense services on the U.S. Munitions List.
Global Lift and SustainThe Global Lift and Sustain authority permits the Defense Department to provide logistics support, supplies and services to allied forces participating in combined operations with U.S. Armed Forces.
International Military Education and TrainingInternational Military Education and Training (IMET) funds provide training and education on a grant basis to students from allied and friendly nations.
International Narcotics Control and Law EnforcementSeparated by the Security Assistance Monitor, the security assistance part of the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) program provides equipment and training to foreign countries for counternarcotics and anti-crime efforts.
Iraq Train and Equip FundThese funds are available to provide assistance, including training; equipment; logistics support, supplies, and services; stipends; infrastructure repair, renovation, and sustainment to military and other security forces of or associated with the Government of Iraq, including Kurdish and tribal security forces or other local security forces, with a national security mission, to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
Israel Cooperative ProgramsThe Israel Cooperative Programs is a set of Defense Department-funded U.S. military aid programs for missile defense that Congress has consistently appropriated for years.
Non-Security Assistance – Unified CommandHeaded by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Unified Command Plan’s non-security assistance focuses on humanitarian and civic aid.
Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining, and Related ProgramsThe Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) account supports funding in nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, regional stability, and humanitarian assistance to help reduce transnational threats to American security and mitigate local threats.
Peacekeeping OperationsThe Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) account provides funds for several initiatives in support of peacekeeping and regional stability not funded through the United Nations.
Regional Centers for Security StudiesThe Regional Centers for Security Studies are Defense Department-administered venues for research, communication and exchange of ideas involving military and civilian participants from the United States and foreign countries.
Section 1004 Counter-Drug AssistanceAuthorized in the FY 1991 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 1004 permits the Defense Department to give U.S. and foreign security forces additional support for counter-narcotics activities.
Section 1206 Train and Equip AuthoritySection 1206 authority grants the Secretary of Defense the authority to train and equip foreign military forces and foreign maritime security forces to perform counterterrorism operations and to participate in or to support military and stability operations in which U.S. Armed Forces are participating.
Section 1208 AuthoritySection 1208 Authority provides support to foreign forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals engaged in supporting or facilitating ongoing military operations by United States special operations forces to combat terrorism.
Section 333 Building Partner CapacitySection 333 Building Partner Capacity is a new program created under the provisions of the FY 2017 NDAA that sought to expand the Global Train and Equip (Section 1206 Train and Equip Authority) scope for the purpose of building the capacity of foreign national security forces to conduct one or more of the following: Counterterrorism operations; Counter-weapons of mass destruction operations; Counter-illicit drug trafficking operations; Counter-transnational organized crime operations; Maritime and border security operations; Military intelligence operations; Operations or activities that contribute to an international coalition operation.
Service AcademiesThe United States Service Academies are federal academies for undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers for members of the United States Armed Forces, but each academy also allows foreign military personnel to attend under certain circumstances.
State Partnership ProgramThe National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) partners U.S. states with foreign nations to promote and enhance bilateral relationships. The program primarily involves Military-to-Military (M2M) engagements, promoting defense and security cooperation to include non-commissioned officer (NCO) professional development, soldier readiness, equipment familiarization, and maintenance.
Ukraine Security Assistance InitiativeThe Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is a Defense Department-funded security assistance program created by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act in order to provide defensive equipment and training.
Wales InitiativeA Defense Department assistance program that provides financial support for non-NATO members to participate in the Partnership for Peace defense cooperation program.