by CAPT. CAIRO A. LARKINS, USAF
unaddressed in FMS case planning and execution. FMS Cases The FMS Enterprise encompasses all U.S. Government (USG) agencies that have a role in FMS case develop - ment, sustainment, and oversight. These agencies primarily reside in the Department of War, the military ser - vices, and the Department of State. They include the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the secretaries of the military services, and Service- specific FMS implementing agencies. The Service FMS agencies include the Air Force Security Assistance and Co - operation Directorate (AFSAC), U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC), Navy International Pro - grams Office, and in-country Security Cooperation Teams. For the Secretary of the Air Force, the Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs pro -
vides policy, oversight, and personnel training in support of defense secu - rity cooperation objectives with U.S. partners and allies. FMS cases consist of a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to sell, transfer, or provide defense equipment or ser - vices to a Partner Nation by leverag - ing the warfighting acquisition enter - prise to source, deliver, and sustain the equipment or services specified
in the LOA. Figure 1 illustrates the detailed life cycle of an Air Force FMS case. Although the case life cycle is somewhat complex, it can be simpli - fied into two major stages (Figure 2): Letters of request (LOR) and letters of acceptance (LOAs) are the initiating documents for an FMS case in Stage 1. An LOR is a letter from a Partner (1) Request and acceptance (2) Sustainment and closure
[T]aking a deliberate, effects-based approach to FMS case initiation by frontline security cooperation officers (SCOs) who
directly interface with Host and Partner Nation military-political decision-makers can yield increasingly valuable strategic outcomes.
MAY – JUNE 2026 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE 45
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker