Exchange officer An exchange officer is a commissioned officer in a country ' s armed forces who is temporarily attached to a unit of the armed forces of another country . Exchange officers usually serve in similar roles to those that their career path would take them were they to remain in the armed forces of their home state . The exchange officer will usually perform all duties as if he or she were actually in the armed forces to which they are attached . This includes going to war , if required , although this would require that permission be granted from their home government , and that other conditions may be attached . The stated purpose of an exchange officer programme is usually to help foster understanding of each other ' s operating method s . This provides valuable feedback so that any issues that crop up in joint operations , such as those done under NATO , would not impede the achievement of mission objectives . The British and the U . S . armed services have many exchange officers ; for example , a British officer has been attached to the United States Military Academy at West Point for many years . The Australian Army also attaches one of its officers with the rank of captain to the Royal Military College of Malaysia . Though the Canadian government was stated to be neutral with regards to the Iraq War , many Canadians fought in Iraq under exchange with the U . S . military . Notable Examples . Charles Alvin Beckwith , a United States Army officer , Served with the British 22nd Special Air Service regiment during the Malayan Emergency , and eventually took the tactics and real world lessons he learned with the SAS and went on to form the United States Army Delta Force unit . Thomas S . Jones , a general serving with the United States Marine Corps was an exchange officer who served with the Royal Marines of the UK during his career path . In 2007 Queen Elizabeth II presented U . S . Marine Major William D . Chesarek Jr . with the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in 2006 as an exchange officer flying British helicopters in Iraq . The United States Navy guided missile destroyer USS " Winston S . Churchill " has a Royal Navy officer permanently assigned to her crew . The Royal Navy frigate , HMS " Marlborough " , had a US Navy officer permanently stationed aboard in return until she was decommissioned in July 2005 . The Canadian Forces places an officer as Deputy Commanding General of the US Army ' s III Corps , a formation similar in size to the entire Canadian military located at Fort Hood , currently BGen . Dean Milner . Fort Bragg ' s XVIII Airborne Corps also contains a Canadian exchange officer who is designated " Deputy Commanding General Operations " , currently BGen . Wayne Eyre . Former Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff s , Generals Rick Hillier and Walter Natynczyk both took part in exchange programs with the US Armed Forces prior to being appointed . After invading Iraq , GySgt Brad Colbert went on to serve with the Royal Marines for two years . Exchange Officer Programmes . A programme between the 82nd Airborne Division and the Parachute Regiment of the US Army and British Army respectively . The 82nd Airborne Division also has a similar program with the Australian Army . The UK Royal Marines and US ' s Marine Corps also have such program , as does the Special Air Service and Delta Force .