Security Assistance is a group of programs, authorized under
Title 22 of the U.S. Code, by which the U.S. government provides defense articles, military education and training, and other defense-related services to eligible foreign governments by grant, loan, credit, cash sales, or lease. The State Department supervises and directs the U.S. government's security assistance programs, in consultation and coordination with the Defense Department and other government entities.
The Secretary of Defense establishes military requirements and implements programs to transfer defense articles and services to eligible foreign countries and international organizations. Within the Defense Department, the principal responsible agencies for Security Cooperation are:
- the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA),
- the Geographic Combatant Commands (CCMDs),
- the Joint Staff,
- the Security Cooperation Organizations (SCOs), and
- the Military Departments (MILDEPs), including the U.S. Army.
DASA (DE&C) leads the U.S. Army Security Assistance Enterprise (ASAE) -- the collective Army organizations involved in security assistance -- providing leadership, resource management and policy oversight for Foreign Military Sales (FMS), International Military Education and Training (IMET), and Department of Defense global train-and-equip missions.