The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command completed another successful fiscal year of foreign military sales for the Army with $20.7 billion in new business for 2014.
The command, which develops and manages security assistance programs and foreign military sales cases for the Army, is managing more than 4,700 FMS cases, valued at $156 billion, for 145 countries, and projects sales to reach approximately $15 billion in fiscal 2015.
USASAC is broken down into regionally aligned COCOM operations reaching every continent in the world with the potential sale of equipment, spare parts, maintenance, training and simulation, technical documentation and facilities.
A major milestone for the Army and Qatar was met this year when defense secretary Chuck Hagel and minister of state for defense affairs in Qatar, Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, signed letters of offer and acceptance for Apache helicopters, Patriot and Javelin defense systems valued at $11 billion. The case was the largest FMS purchase for a single country in FY '14 managed by the Army.
The Army Materiel Command Security Assistance Enterprise, comprised of USASAC, AMC's Life Cycle Management Commands and other organizations, not only supported allies with materiel needed to defend their borders, but met requirements in time of natural disaster or offensives. USASAC expedited support to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant by delivering over $200 million worth of weapons and ammunition to Iraq.
Other highlights from the regional operations directorates include USASAC's PACOM coordinating a $100 million FMS case for 14 CH-47s. SOUTHCOM operations implemented 165 cases, including 36 M109A5 Howitzers for the Brazilian Army.
FMS operations for EUCOM included 300 refurbished Stinger missiles and 110 Gripstocks for Finland. The Ukraine received 2,000 sets of body armor, 4,000 SAPI plates, 150 Night Vision Goggles with spares and five Explosive Ordinance Disposal robots.
USASAC's AFRICOM FMS included a Tunisian case for eight UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, some with Hellfire and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. These helicopters will increase Tunisia's capability and capacity to counter violent extremist organizations operating within Tunisia.
The Security Assistance Training Management Organization, a subordinate command of USASAC, continued training for pilots in the Afghan Air Force this past year. This training program was the first of its kind to be held in Afghanistan in more than 30 years and is projected to be turned over to the Afghan Air Force by 2017.
This year also marked leadership changes for USASAC. The command welcomed its 27th commander Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald in June, bidding farewell to Maj. Gen. Del Turner, who retired with 37 years of military service. USASATMO also welcomed Col. Andy Boston as their new commander following Col. Joe Bovy's retirement after 31 years of service. This month, Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Mansker, USASAC's first command sergeant major, relinquishes his responsibility as he moves on to his next assignment at the Pentagon.
Today, USASAC remains "The Army's Face to the World," and employs over 850 personnel at Redstone Arsenal, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and in various geographic locations throughout the world in support of its worldwide mission.
The past year was one of the busiest for USASAC and the entire Security Assistance Enterprise, with the second highest sales in its 49-year history and its largest caseload ever. As USASAC heads into the new year, the command remains focused on building partner capacity, supporting engagement strategies of combatant commanders and strengthening U.S. global partnerships.
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