Not only do these programs provide intellectual and technical benefits to the participants, they also expose thousands of current and future foreign military leaders to the values essential to maintaining security forces in democratic societies. Finally, as valuable as these programs are for our friends and allies, they also provide direct benefits to U.S. service members. When U.S. service members meet with their foreign counterparts, they improve their understanding of foreign military organizations, languages, cultures, and political systems, as well as the different types of environments into which they might deploy in the future. This report is a record of the many ways in which Congressionally approved foreign military education and training programs and engagement activities support U.S. foreign policy, benefiting both foreign and U.S. forces. Benefits to the foreign forces include access to U.S. military experience and expertise, and receipt of the knowledge and skills that are transferred during education and training and as a byproduct of the engagement activities.
International engagement is a key component of our national security strategy.
All international education and training, as well as engagement activities, play a role in shaping the strategic environment to prevent conflict and promote regional stability. We also value highly the substantial progress we have made in our bilateral and multilateral relationships throughout the world. We continue to explore a range of vehicles for promoting constructive ties among nations and strongly believe that the international training and engagement activities described in this report are vital for cementing these ties. The programs described in this report form the foundation of U.S. efforts to assist friendly nations in their efforts to develop professional, civilian-controlled militaries. Future foreign military leaders, just like their U.S. counterparts, must be both educated and experienced in proper military operations as well as basic military competencies.