DSCA Revamps the
SAMM
(WASHINGTON, April 27,
2012) The Defense Security Cooperation
Agency (DSCA) is reissuing the Security Assistance Management Manual
(SAMM) on 30 April as an online document. It becomes effective immediately for use by all of
the DoD Components.
 The SAMM
provides DoD-wide guidance to all components engaged in the
management or implementation of security assistance and security
cooperation programs over which DSCA has responsibility, in
accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA); the Arms Export
Control Act (AECA); DoD Directive 5132.03: “DoD Policy and
Responsibilities Relating to Security Cooperation,” October 24,
2008; and all other related statutes and directives.
The SAMM was reissued because of a 2008 Washington
Headquarters Services policy that said that large, frequently
changed documents like the SAMM could be promulgated at the
agency-level after ensuring proper delegations of authority to allow
for issuance of DoD-wide guidance. The transition from a DoD
to DSCA document makes it possible to offer the SAMM in a much more
modern and user-friendly format. The SAMM’s last major update
was issued in 2003 and it has since been updated by over 380 policy
memos.
Primary objectives for the reissuance include:
updated content for accuracy; removal of unused procedures and
tables; simplified language; better organization with more detailed
guidance; and a conversion to an electronic format. While
electronic formatting means the loss of DSCA’s ability to offer the
SAMM in a consolidated print version, it makes the document more
readily accessible and useful. Many suggestions came out of a
survey, disseminated to the security cooperation community in
October 2011, seeking input on how DSCA can more effectively issue
security assistance/cooperation policy and ensure the that SAMM is
designed and used to accomplish security cooperation functions
across all levels. Over 500 responses were received with
suggested improvements including:
• Improved search functionality, indexing
capability, and enhanced links for easier
navigation;
• Downloadable and fillable
forms;
• Inclusion of all policy memos from 2003 to
present; and
• A new Chapter 15 (Building Partner Capacity
Programs), in addition to more detailed guidance in Chapters 2
(Responsibilities & Relationships), 7 (Transportation), 10
(International Training), 12 (Humanitarian Assistance & Mine
Action Programs), and Appendices 1 (Nonrecurring Cost Recoupment
Charges for Major Defense Equipment) and 4 (Generic
Codes).
• Besides the improvements, the advantages of
converting to an electronic format include immediate access to
current policy guidance and updates; reduced costs for paper,
ink/toner supplies, and printers; and simplified access and
information sharing via electronic distribution.
• DSCA will disseminate a follow-up SAMM survey six
months after initial release for security cooperation community
feedback.
Anticipated improvements
include:
• The “DRUPAL” Content Management System (CMS) for
Wiki-like functionality, and advanced search
capability;
• A new Chapter 16 (Case Reconciliation &
Closure); and
• A copy of the current version of the SAMM
maintained in PDF format for redundancy
purposes.
Click here
for the SAMM section of
DSCA.mil.
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