Defense Primer: Security Cooperation

The Department of Defense (DOD) uses the term security cooperation (SC) to refer broadly to DOD interactions with foreign security establishments. SC activities include:

*transferring defense articles and services,
*military-to-military exercises,
*ministerial advising, and
*train and equip programs.

SC programs are intended to encourage and enable partnernations (PNs) to work with the United States to achieve strategic objectives. They are considered a key tool for achieving U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. These activities are executed through both DOD-managed and -administered SC programs and DOD administered State Department (DOS) security assistance (SA) programs.