10 U.S.C. § 332 — Friendly foreign countries; international and regional organizations: defense institution capacity building

(a) Ministry of Defense Advisor Authority With the Secretary of State's agreement, the Secretary of Defense can run a program that assigns Defense Department civilian employees and members of the armed forces as advisors. They advise the ministries of defense — or similar security agencies — of foreign countries, or regional organizations with security missions. The goals are: (1) giving institutional, ministry-level advice and other training, to support stabilization or post-conflict work; or (2) helping that ministry or organization build its core institutional capacity, skills, and abilities to manage defense-related processes. (b) Training of Personnel of Foreign Ministries With Security Missions (1) In general: With the Secretary of State's agreement, the Secretary of Defense can run a program providing advisors or trainers to give training and support services to personnel of foreign defense ministries — or ministries overseeing security forces — or regional security organizations. The purposes include: (A)(i) strengthening civilian oversight of foreign security forces; (ii) establishing responsible, transparent, and accountable defense institutions and internal controls; (iii) assessing organizational weaknesses and planning a roadmap to fix them; and (iv) improving core management skills at the ministry, staff, or service level; and (B) any other purpose the Secretary decides fits within the authority in subsection (a). (2) Notice to Congress: By February 1 each year, the Secretary of Defense must report to the relevant congressional committees on the past fiscal year's program activities. Each report must include: (A) a list of activities; (B) a list of organizations given advisors or trainers, including how many were provided, how long each stayed, what they did, and what each provision cost; and (C) a full justification for any activities done under (1)(B). (c) Congressional Notice At least 15 days before assigning a civilian employee or service member as an advisor to a regional organization under subsection (a), the Secretary must notify the relevant congressional committees. The notice must include: (1) a statement that the Secretary intends to make the assignment; (2) the organization's name and the assignment's location and length; (3) a description of the assignment — including the training or assistance to be given, why it's justified, what unique skills the advisor brings, and how the assignment serves U.S. national security interests; and (4) any other information about the assignment the Secretary considers appropriate.