Objective

The Security Cooperation Management Policy, Programs, and Planning (SCM-P3) Course provides a functional knowledge of security assistance/security cooperation planning considerations, authorities, funding and roles of the Department of State (DoS), Department of Defense (DoD), and other members of the U.S. government interagency.

This course meets International Program Security (IPS) training requirements of DoD Directive 5230.20.

Course Description

Instruction is provided on the many complex and interrelated aspects of security assistance and security cooperation. These include the role of the Department of State in foreign policy, that of the Department of Defense in national defense, and that of the Congress in the areas of authorization, appropriation, and oversight. The functions and responsibilities of the geographic combatant commands, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), and the Military Departments (MILDEP) are also addressed. The syllabus (below) lists the various topics covered in this course. The emphasis of the curriculum is on the roles, planning considerations, authorities, funding, policies and procedures involved in the management of security assistance and security cooperation programs/activities in a headquarters staff environment.

Classes sponsored by a geographic combatant command or one of its components tend to have a regional focus and emphasis. It includes guest speakers from the command and integrate presentations from headquarter staff personnel on the practical application of the various programs/activities in a particular region.

Continuous Learning Points

Graduates of this course may use the hours associated as Continuous Learning Points (CLPs, CEPs, etc.) for various professional development programs. Specific hours, by course, are listed at Continuous Learning Points.

Ace Equivalency Course Information

Visit the Ace Equivalency Course Information page to see the American Council on Education recommendation for this course.

Eligibility Criteria

Only USG employees and contractor equivalents are eligible for attendance. Officials of other federal government agencies, such as the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development and Department of Commerce, may also enroll in the course.

All DoD personnel assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) staff, Joint Staff (JS), Military Department (MILDEP) Headquarter staffs, Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands, DoD component commands, other DoD entities (i.e. including training and education institutions) and interagency staffs who have a role and/or responsibility in Security Assistance / Security Cooperation are encouraged to attend.

This course is NOT intended for personnel who have been selected to fill overseas Security Cooperation Organization (SCO) positions responsible for security assistance and security cooperation management. SCO personnel are required by DoDI 5132.13 to complete the SCM-O course. Selected SCO personnel may, with the recommendation of their Geographic Combatant Command and the approval of DSCA, attend this course in lieu of SCM-O.

A SECRET clearance is required for all students. This class is NOT open for Foreign Service Nationals.

DISCS Funding and Ground Transportation

DISCS pays all travel and administrative support cost for its’ faculty to support these classes. Additionally, DISCS will fund limited student travel on a case-by-case basis.

Uniform and Dress Requirements

For U.S. military personnel, any duty uniform prescribed by their service is appropriate. For USG civilians and USG contractors, appropriate business casual office attire is appropriate.

Classes and Hours

SCM-P3 holds classes daily on normal USG workdays. Classes begin at 0800 each day with the academic portion ending between 1630 and 1700. Students must finish all classroom and on-line lessons before certificates of graduation will be awarded. Day 5 may last until 1630; students should plan accordingly when scheduling airline flight departures. DISCS does not authorize early departures except in a bona fide emergency.

Security Cooperation Workforce Database

Requests for DISCS courses will be compared with individual training requirements prescribed by organizations within the Security Cooperation Workforce Database (SCWD). Military service quota managers and supervisors endorsing training requests should validate individual training requests from the SCWD prior to submitting a student nomination for training. Requests for training above the required level for the prospective student’s position will be allocated on a “space available” basis. DISCS may also “bump” requests for “desired” training to accommodate “required” training as designated within SCWD. For further information on SCWD please contact your military service/agency POC, your organizational quota manager or the Registrar.

SCWD levels of training are:

• Level One - Security Cooperation Familiarization (online training)
• Level Two - Security Cooperation Orientation Course (primarily online training)
• Level Three - Security Cooperation Management courses (resident and non-resident)
• Level Four - Security Cooperation advanced courses (resident)

SCM-P3 is a Level THREE Course.

International Programs Security Certification

In accordance with Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, 22 October 1999, Training International Security and Foreign Disclosure Support to International Programs, all DoD employees involved in international programs must receive training in International Programs Security. SCM-P3 is certified to meet the requirements of this training. Students who successfully complete SCM-P3 receive a certificate to that affect.

International Affairs Certification Program (IACP)

The Department of Defense International Affairs, Certification Program Guidelines dated 28 April 2008, set forth standardized certification guidelines for the International Affairs Certification Program (IACP). Workforce members are required to meet the mandatory standards of education, training, and experience in order to achieve each of three levels of certification.

Certification is not required for filling IA positions, but it does readily identify those individuals who have completed specific training, education, and experience thresholds. Certification is available to military and civilian personnel. Click here for more information.