ABSTRACT
Despite the technological, operational, and tactical proficiency, combined with the force projection capability, of US forces, American success in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) will depend to a great degree on the military capabilities of its allies. While many of Washington’s NATO partners possess sophisticated and proficient military organizations, others outside NATO require assistance in modernizing their forces. The traditional mechanism for transferring knowledge of US practices, enhancing capabilities and professionalism, promoting stable civil-military relations, encouraging regional cooperation and integration and advancing militaryto-military (mil-to-mil) contact in partner nations is through Security Assistance Organizations (SAOs). SAOs are teams of US military personnel dispatched by the Department of Defense (DOD)to organize and execute a full spectrum of programs, collectively known as Security Cooperation, tailored to the Partner Nation’s specific needs.1
