Nina M. Serafino
Specialist in International Security Affairs
Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2006, as amended and regularly extended, provides the Secretary of Defense with authority to train and equip foreign military forces for two specified purposes—counterterrorism and stability operations—and foreign maritime security forces for counterterrorism operations. The Department of Defense (DOD) values this authority as an important tool to train and equip military partners. Funds may be obligated only with the concurrence of the Secretary of State. Thus far, the Department of Defense (DOD) has used Section 1206 authority primarily to provide counterterrorism (CT) support. In FY2010, Section 1206 funds were also used to provide significant assistance to train and equip foreign military forces for military and stability operations in which U.S. forces participate.
Section 1206 allocations for FY2006-FY2009 and congressionally notified plans for FY2010 total over $1.3 billion. FY2011 plans are still under consideration.
Through the use of over $1.3 billion in FY2006 through FY2010 funds, Section 1206 supported bilateral programs in 34 countries, 14 multilateral programs, and a global human rights program. Just over 40% of the nearly $1 million in FY2006-FY2009 Section 1206 funding was obligated for three countries: Lebanon, Pakistan, and Yemen. For FY2010, Section 1206 provides $340.6 million in support for bilateral programs in 18 countries and one multilateral program for seven recipients (including three receiving bilateral aid). The three largest recipients in FY2010 were Lebanon ($23.0 million), the Philippines ($27.7 million), and Yemen ($155.3 million). In greater Europe, 13 states received about $74 million in FY2010 aid to support their deployments to Afghanistan, with Georgia receiving $20 million of that assistance.
Some Members are concerned with several issues related to Section 1206 authority, both narrow and broad. Specific current concerns include whether Section 1206 funds are being used appropriately and effectively, and whether the authority should be expanded to provide training not only military forces but also to a wide range of foreign security forces. (Currently, Section 1206 limits security force training to maritime security forces.) An overarching issue is whether Congress should place Section 1206 train and equip (T&E) authority under the State Department with other T&E authorities. (Members have thus far refrained from codifying Section 1206 in permanent law, as requested by DOD.) A related issue is whether Congress should grant the State Department its own security assistance contingency fund with purposes that overlap Section 1206, as provided in the House-passed FY2010-FY2011 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (H.R. 2410, Section 841). Finally, as the Obama Administration conducts an overall assessment of foreign assistance, including security assistance, some Members may wish to examine the status of Section 1206 in the context of broader security assistance reform.
In its FY2012 budget request, presented February 14, the Obama Administration asks for $500 million in Section 1206 funding. (For Congress to appropriate this amount, the authorization ceiling would have to be raised.) In addition to its Section 1206 request, the Obama Administration asks for a $50 million appropriation in each of the DOD and the State Department budgets, and a new $450 million DOD transfer authority, to fund a new three-year pilot project: a joint DOD-State Global Security Contingency Fund. The stated purposes of this fund seem to overlap with Section 1206 purposes.
Date of Report: March 3, 2011
Number of Pages: 43
Order Number: RS22855
Price: $29.95
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Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Specialist in International Security Affairs
Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2006, as amended and regularly extended, provides the Secretary of Defense with authority to train and equip foreign military forces for two specified purposes—counterterrorism and stability operations—and foreign maritime security forces for counterterrorism operations. The Department of Defense (DOD) values this authority as an important tool to train and equip military partners. Funds may be obligated only with the concurrence of the Secretary of State. Thus far, the Department of Defense (DOD) has used Section 1206 authority primarily to provide counterterrorism (CT) support. In FY2010, Section 1206 funds were also used to provide significant assistance to train and equip foreign military forces for military and stability operations in which U.S. forces participate.
Section 1206 allocations for FY2006-FY2009 and congressionally notified plans for FY2010 total over $1.3 billion. FY2011 plans are still under consideration.
Through the use of over $1.3 billion in FY2006 through FY2010 funds, Section 1206 supported bilateral programs in 34 countries, 14 multilateral programs, and a global human rights program. Just over 40% of the nearly $1 million in FY2006-FY2009 Section 1206 funding was obligated for three countries: Lebanon, Pakistan, and Yemen. For FY2010, Section 1206 provides $340.6 million in support for bilateral programs in 18 countries and one multilateral program for seven recipients (including three receiving bilateral aid). The three largest recipients in FY2010 were Lebanon ($23.0 million), the Philippines ($27.7 million), and Yemen ($155.3 million). In greater Europe, 13 states received about $74 million in FY2010 aid to support their deployments to Afghanistan, with Georgia receiving $20 million of that assistance.
Some Members are concerned with several issues related to Section 1206 authority, both narrow and broad. Specific current concerns include whether Section 1206 funds are being used appropriately and effectively, and whether the authority should be expanded to provide training not only military forces but also to a wide range of foreign security forces. (Currently, Section 1206 limits security force training to maritime security forces.) An overarching issue is whether Congress should place Section 1206 train and equip (T&E) authority under the State Department with other T&E authorities. (Members have thus far refrained from codifying Section 1206 in permanent law, as requested by DOD.) A related issue is whether Congress should grant the State Department its own security assistance contingency fund with purposes that overlap Section 1206, as provided in the House-passed FY2010-FY2011 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (H.R. 2410, Section 841). Finally, as the Obama Administration conducts an overall assessment of foreign assistance, including security assistance, some Members may wish to examine the status of Section 1206 in the context of broader security assistance reform.
In its FY2012 budget request, presented February 14, the Obama Administration asks for $500 million in Section 1206 funding. (For Congress to appropriate this amount, the authorization ceiling would have to be raised.) In addition to its Section 1206 request, the Obama Administration asks for a $50 million appropriation in each of the DOD and the State Department budgets, and a new $450 million DOD transfer authority, to fund a new three-year pilot project: a joint DOD-State Global Security Contingency Fund. The stated purposes of this fund seem to overlap with Section 1206 purposes.
Date of Report: March 3, 2011
Number of Pages: 43
Order Number: RS22855
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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