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last updated:9/2/03
SAOs: Security Assistance Organizations
(Overseas Military Program Management)

Program description / Law | Funding by country | Staffing by country | Other sites

Program description Law
Security Assistance Organizations (SAOs) are military and civilian personnel stationed in foreign countries to manage security assistance and other military programs. SAOs are closest to these programs' operation and have the closest contact with host-country militaries.

SAOs go by different names in different countries. In Latin America and the Caribbean, names include Military Groups (MILGROUPs), Military Assistance Advisory Groups (MAAGs), Military Liaison Offices (MLOs), and Offices of the Defense Representative (ODRs). In general, they are not to be confused with defense attachés, who normally play a more diplomatic role; many embassies have both defense attachés and SAOs.

SAOs' duties are officially referred to as "overseas military program management." Specific responsibilities may include:

  • Managing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases;
  • Managing training programs;
  • Monitoring security-assistance programs;
  • Evaluating and planning the host country's military capabilities and requirements;
  • Promoting international defense cooperation and interoperability between forces;
  • Providing administrative support; and
  • Carrying out other liaison functions.

Typically, these responsibilities require an SAO to carry out the following tasks listed in The Management of Security Assistance, a Defense Department manual:

  • Provide foreign governments with information they need to help them decide whether to buy U.S. defense articles and services. This information might concern the acquisition, use, and training needed to obtain these items;
  • Evaluate host countries' military capabilities, in order to process security assistance requests;
  • Acquire information concerning foreign governments' potential future defense acquisitions;
  • Help U.S. military departments (such as the Army or Navy) arrange security assistance for recipient countries;
  • Assist host governments in identifying, administering, and disposing of excess security assistance materiel;
  • Report on the use of defense articles and services granted as aid to the host country, as well as personnel trained by the United States;
  • Inform other Defense Department offices with security-assistance responsibilities of security assistance activities in host countries;
  • Perform secondary functions, such as advisory and training services and negotiation on non-security assistance military matters; and
  • Perform command and administrative functions.1

SAOs also coordinate or participate in activities not traditionally regarded as "security assistance," such as exercises and deployments, humanitarian civic assistance activities, exchanges, conferences and other military-to-military contact programs.

Section 515 (e) of the Foreign Assistance Act states that SAOs are to be under the direct supervision of the Ambassador to the country in which they are stationed. However, The Management of Security Assistance probably reflects reality more closely: "The Chief of the SAO is essentially responsible to three authorities: the Ambassador (who heads up the country team), the Commander of the Unified Command [in this case the U.S. Southern Command], and the Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency."2

Funding for the portion of SAO salaries and operating costs used to manage security assistance comes from the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and from administrative surcharges on Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

 Section 515 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (P.L. 87-195, or the "FAA"), as amended, governs SAO staffing and responsibilities.

Limitations

Section 515(b) mandates that SAOs keep advisory and training assistance to an absolute minimum. This provision's intent is to specify that SAOs should manage training and advice provided by others, not carry it out themselves.

The number of military members of an SAO cannot exceed six unless specifically authorized by Congress. Colombia, El Salvador and Honduras are the only Western Hemisphere countries allowed to exceed this limit.

Section 515(f) orders the President to instruct SAOs that they "should not encourage, promote, or influence the purchase by any foreign country of United States-made military equipment, unless they are specifically instructed to do so by an appropriate official of the executive branch."

Reporting

SAO staff sizes must be included in the Congressional Presentation documents submitted each February with the administration's budget request.

Notification

If the President wishes to exceed the maximum of six military SAO members, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee must be notified 30 days in advance.

If the President wishes to exceed the number of military SAO members listed in the yearly State Department Congressional Presentation (even if the number will not exceed six), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee must be notified 30 days in advance.

Click to read the text of Section 515 of the FAA, also known as section 2321i of Title 22, U.S. Code. (From U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library)

Funding by country

Actual assigned strengths for FY 1997 and FY 1998 may be less than the authorized levels shown. Staffing requirements may change as individual country programs develop.

(Thousands of U.S. dollars.)

2003-2005:

Country Organization* 2003 funding, Actual [10] 2004 funding, Estimate [10] 2005 funding, Request [10]
  FMF FMS Total FMF FMS Total FMF FMS Total
Argentina USMILGP 244 81 325 271 90 361 271 90 361
Bahamas USNLO 38 0 38 35 0 35 35 0 35
Belize USMLO 196 49 246 217 54 272 217 54 272
Bolivia USMILGP 440 293 733 537 230 768 537 230 768
Brazil USMLO 199 112 311 183 103 286 183 103 286
Chile USMILGP 148 189 337 148 189 337 148 189 337
Colombia USMILGP 354 415 769 325 381 706 325 381 706
Costa Rica ODR 165 55 220 168 56 224 168 56 224
Dominican Republic USMAAG 323 108 431 282 94 376 282 94 376
Eastern Caribbean USMLO 170 73 242 166 71 238 166 71 238
Ecuador USMILGP 353 151 505 332 142 474 332 142 474
El Salvador USMILGP 441 189 631 475 158 633 475 158 633
Guatemala USMILGP 237 0 237 174 0 174 174 0 174
Guyana USMLO 24 10 34 26 11 37 26 11 37
Haiti USMLO 386 165 551 339 145 485 339 145 485
Honduras USMILGP 411 242 653 418 246 664 418 246 664
Jamaica USMLO 339 74 413 339 74 413 339 74 413
Mexico USMLO 449 242 690 557 300 857 557 300 857
Nicaragua USMLO 34 0 34 24 12 35 24 12 35
Panama ODC 143 25 168 148 26 174 148 26 174
Paraguay ODC 218 11 229 202 11 212 202 11 212
Peru USMAAG 344 211 554 378 162 540 378 162 540
Suriname DAO 33 0 33 34 0 34 34 Q0 34
Trinidad & Tobago USMLO 33 22 55 35 24 59 35 24 59
Uruguay ODC 181 78 259 180 77 258 180 77 258
Venezuela USMILGP 253 168 421 238 159 397 238 159 397
Total, Latin America 6,156 3,033 9,189 6,231 2,887 9,121 6,231 2,887 9,121

2000-2002:

 
Country Organization* 2000 funding, Actual [7] 2001 funding, Actual [8] 2002 funding, Actual [9]
  FMF FMS Total FMF FMS Total FMF FMS Total
Argentina USMILGP
393
131
523
 $334 $111 $445 324 108 432
Bahamas USNLO 25 3 28 19 2 21 18 2 20
Belize USMLO
154
83
236
 271 146 417 256 108 364
Bolivia USMILGP
654
280
935
 478 205 683 484 207 691
Brazil USMLO
302
129
431
 268 151 419 218 117 335
Chile USMILGP
185
79
264
 192 82 274 268 115 383
Colombia USMILGP
772
257
1029
 494 165 658 449 150 599
Costa Rica ODR
229
0
229
 183 61 243 187 62 249
Dominican Republic USMAAG
177
95
272
 194 104 298 225 75 300
Eastern Caribbean USMLO
353
72
426
 364 91 455 324 81 405
Ecuador USMILGP
281
121
402
 260 112 372 337 145 482
El Salvador USMILGP
426
348
774
 525 131 656 514 129 643
Guatemala USMILGP
146
37
183
 196 0 196 229 0 229
Guyana USMLO
0
0
0
 29 2 30 16 1 17
Haiti USMLO
340
113
454
 602 0 602 661 0 661
Honduras USMILGP
495
266
761
 231 124 355 411 176 587
Jamaica USMLO
210
113
323
 201 164 365 221 147 368
Mexico USMLO/DAO
244
199
443
 265 217 482 369 246 615
Nicaragua USMLO
0
0
0
 0 0 0 15 1 16
Panama ODC
160
68
228
 102 44 146 119 40 159
Paraguay ODC
186
20
206
 156 16 172 192 21 213
Peru MAAG
422
47
468
 466 25 490 463 24 487
Suriname DAO       8 0 8 20 0 20
Trinidad & Tobago USMLO
22
1
23
 31 0 31 37 0 37
Uruguay ODC
224
96
320
 186 100 286 181 97 278
Venezuela USMILGP
248
134
382
 366 112 448 500 167 667
Total, Latin America
6,647
2,750
9,397
 6,389 2,231 8,619 7,038 2,285 9,323

1998-99:

Country Organization* 1998 funding, Estimated4 1999 funding, Requested4
  FMF FMS Total FMF FMS Total
Argentina USMILGP $391 $98 $489 $383 $96 $479
Belize USMLO $217 $73 $290 $209 $70 $279
Bolivia USMILGP $369 $451 $820 $344 $420 $764
Brazil USMLO $434 $186 $620 $419 $180 $599
Chile USMILGP $346 $116 $462 $333 $111 $444
Colombia USMILGP $813 $435 $1,248 $773 $417 $1,190
Costa Rica ODR $230 $26 $256 $218 $24 $242
Dominican Republic DAO (a) / USMAAG $297 $53 $350 $304 $54 $358
Eastern Caribbean USMLO (b) $239 $42 $281 $234 $59 $293
Ecuador USMILGP $302 $101 $403 $315 $105 $420
El Salvador USMILGP $470 $384 $854 $491 $401 $892
Guatemala USMILGP $213 $24 $237 $122 $14 $136
Haiti USMLO $116 $63 $179 $125 $67 $192
Honduras USMILGP $481 $259 $740 $470 $253 $723
Jamaica USMLO $279 $186 $465 $279 $186 $465
Mexico DAO (a) $197 $131 $328 $182 $121 $303
Panama DAO (a) $65 $22 $87 $59 $25 $84
Paraguay ODC $270 $30 $300 $257 $28 $285
Peru MAAG $572 $64 $636 $546 $61 $607
Uruguay ODC $290 $97 $387 $280 $93 $373
Venezuela USMILGP $408 $219 $627 $380 $204 $584
Total, Latin America $7,043 $3,062 $10,105 $6,769 $2,991 $9,760

1996-97:

Country Organization* 1996 funding, Actual3 1997 funding, Actual4
  FMF FMS Total FMF FMS Total
Argentina USMILGP $276 $92 $368 $334 $111 $445
Belize USMLO $147 $63 $210 $158 $68 $226
Bolivia USMILGP $686 $191 $877 $202 $375 $577
Brazil USMLO $255 $131 $386 $366 $197 $563
Chile USMILGP $164 $71 $235 $196 $84 $280
Colombia USMILGP $596 $266 $862 $670 $447 $1,117
Costa Rica ODR $229 $26 $255 $204 $23 $227
Dominican Republic DAO (a) / USMAAG $168 $86 $254 $244 $61 $305
Eastern Caribbean USMLO (b) $276 $60 $336 $260 $87 $347
Ecuador USMILGP $239 $93 $332 $245 $105 $350
El Salvador USMILGP $523 $207 $730 $195 $585 $780
Guatemala USMILGP $202 $92 $294 $186 $33 $219
Haiti USMLO $278 $23 $301 $206 $137 $343
Honduras USMILGP $536 $239 $775 $395 $310 $705
Jamaica USMLO $126 $82 $208 $150 $122 $272
Mexico DAO (a) $139 $64 $203 $171 $140 $311
Panama DAO (a) $37 $99 $136 $29 $43 $72
Paraguay ODC $176 $42 $218 $268 $30 $298
Peru MAAG $324 $115 $439 $392 $43 $435
Uruguay ODC $197 $84 $281 $222 $95 $317
Venezuela USMILGP $304 $426 $730 $367 $245 $612
Total, Latin America $5,878 $2,552 $8,430 $5,478 $3,342 $8,820

 

Staffing by country

2003-2005

Country Organization 2003 staffing, Actual [10] 2004 staffing, Estimate [10] 2005 staffing, Request [10]
  Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel
Argentina USMILGP 3 0 2 5 3 0 2 5 3 0 2 5
Barbados USMLO c/ 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Belize USMLO 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Bolivia USMILGP 5 2 2 9 5 2 2 9 5 2 1 8
Brazil USMLO 4 0 0 4 4 0 0 4 4 0 0 4
Chile USMILGP 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4
Colombia USMILGP 5 0 3 8 5 3 3 11 5 3 3 11
Costa Rica ODR 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 2 1
Dominican Republic USMAAG 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Ecuador USMILGP 4 1 3 8 4 1 3 8 5 1 2 8
El Salvador USMILGP 4 1 2 7 3 0 2 5 3 0 2 5
Guatemala USMILGP 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Haiti USMLO 3 0 1 4 3 0 1 4 3 0 1 4
Honduras USMILGP 5 1 4 10 4 1 3 8 4 1 3 8
Jamaica USMLO 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Mexico USMLO 3 1 4 8 3 1 4 8 3 1 4 8
Nicaragua DAO a/ 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 2
Panama DAO a/ 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3
Paraguay ODC 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Peru USMAAG 3 1 5 9 1 0 4 5 1 0 4 5
Suriname DAO a/ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Trinidad & Tobago USMLO 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Uruguay USODC 1 0 3 4 1 0 3 4 1 0 3 4
Venezuela USMILGP 2 1 2 5 2 1 2 5 2 1 2 5
Total, Latin America 58 8 38 104 57 10 36 103 58 10 34 102

2000-2002

Country Organization 2000 staffing, Actual [7] 2001 staffing, Actual[8] 2002 staffing, Actual [9]
  Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel
Argentina USMILGP 3 0 2 5 3 0 2 5 3 0 2 5
Barbados USMLO c/ 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Belize USMLO 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Bolivia USMILGP 5 2 2 9 5 2 2 9 5 2 2 9
Brazil USMLO 4 0 0 4 4 0 0 4 4 0 0 4
Chile USMILGP 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4
Colombia USMILGP 6 0 3 9 5 0 3 8 5 0 3 8
Costa Rica ODR 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Dominican Republic USMAAG 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Ecuador USMILGP 4 1 3 8 4 1 3 8 4 1 3 8
El Salvador USMILGP 4 1 4 9 4 1 2 7 4 1 2 7
Guatemala USMILGP 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Haiti USMLO 3 0 1 4 3 0 1 4 3 0 1 4
Honduras USMILGP 5 1 4 10 5 1 4 10 5 1 4 10
Jamaica USMLO 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
Mexico DAO a/ 3 0 5 8 3 1 4 8 3 1 4 8
Panama DAO a/ 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3
Paraguay ODC 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Peru MAAG/USMAAG 3 1 5 9 3 1 5 9 3 1 5 9
Uruguay ODC/USODC 1 0 3 4 1 0 3 4 1 0 3 4
Venezuela USMILGP 2 2 2 6 2 1 2 5 2 1 2 5
Total, Latin America 60 8 41 109 58 8 38 104 58 8 38 104

1998-99

Country Organization 1998 staffing, Estimated6 1999 staffing, Requested6
  Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel
Argentina USMILGP 3 1 2 6 3 0 2 5
Belize USMLO 2 1 0 3 2 1 0 3
Bolivia USMILGP 4 5 3 12 4 4 3 11
Brazil USMLO 3 2 1 6 3 2 1 6
Chile USMILGP 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4
Colombia USMILGP 9 3 10 22 8 3 10 21
Costa Rica ODR 1 0 2 3 1 0 2 3
Dominican Republic USMAAG 3 0 1 4 3 0 1 4
Eastern Caribbean USMLO 4 0 0 4        
Ecuador USMILGP 5 1 5 11 5 1 5 11
El Salvador USMILGP 5 1 10 16 5 1 8 14
Guatemala USMILGP 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3
Haiti USMLO 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3
Honduras USMILGP 5 2 7 14 5 2 7 14
Jamaica USMLO 3 1 0 4 3 1 0 4
Mexico DAO 3 0 3 6 3 0 3 6
Panama DAO 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Paraguay ODC 1 0 3 4 1 0 3 4
Peru MAAG 3 2 5 10 3 2 5 10
Uruguay ODC 1 0 4 5 1 0 4 5
Venezuela USMILGP 5 4 4 13 5 4 4 13
Total, Latin America 72 23 66 161 72 23 66 161

 

1996-97:

Country Organization 1996 staffing, Actual5 1997 staffing, Actual6
  Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel Military personnel Civilian personnel Local personnel Total personnel
Argentina USMILGP 3 1 2 6 3 1 2 6
Belize USMLO 2 1 1 4 2 1 0 3
Bolivia USMILGP 6 5 3 14 5 5 3 13
Brazil USMLO 3 2 1 6 3 2 1 6
Chile USMILGP 2 0 1 3 2 0 2 4
Colombia USMILGP 9 3 10 22 9 3 10 22
Costa Rica ODR 1 2 3 6 1 0 2 3
Dominican Republic USMAAG 3 0 2 5 3 0 1 4
Eastern Caribbean USMLO 4 0 0 4 4 0 0 4
Ecuador USMILGP 5 1 5 11 5 1 5 11
El Salvador USMILGP 7 1 11 19 5 1 10 16
Guatemala USMILGP 3 0 2 5 2 0 1 3
Haiti USMLO 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 3
Honduras USMILGP 7 2 9 18 5 2 7 14
Jamaica USMLO 3 1 0 4 3 1 0 4
Mexico DAO 3 0 3 6 3 0 3 6
Panama DAO 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2
Paraguay ODC 2 0 3 5 1 0 3 4
Peru MAAG 2 1 5 8 3 2 5 10
Uruguay ODC 1 0 4 5 1 0 4 5
Venezuela USMILGP 6 4 5 15 5 4 5 14
Total, Latin America 75 24 72 171 72 23 66 161
*Organizations
DAO (a) Defense Attaché Office (Augmented)
USMAAG Military Assistance Advisory Group
USMILGP Military Group
USMLO Military Liaison Office
ODR Office of Defense Representative

Sources:

1 United States, Department of Defense, Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, The Management of Security Assistance, 17th ed. (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH: May 1997): 111-28.

2 Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management 111-28.

3 United States, Department of State, Office of Resources, Plans and Policy, Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 1998 (Washington: March 1997): 660-1.

4 United States, Department of State, Office of Resources, Plans and Policy, Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 1999 (Washington: March 1998): 1136-7.

5 Department of State, Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 1998 663.

6 Department of State, Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 1999 1140.

7 Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2002

8 Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2003

9 Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2004

10 Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2005

SAOs: Security Assistance Organizations

 

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