Bilateral Affairs Officer

The duties of the Bilateral Affairs Office encompass the core of the planning, coordination of schedules, execution of Traveling Contact Teams, Familiarization Visits and Special State Partnership Program Events. Duties include:^[1]

1. Responsibility for the safe, effective and lawful conduct of all State Partnership Program events.
2. Supervision of all US military and civilian personnel performing duties in the HN under the auspices of State Partnership Program.
3. Acting as the Office of Defense Coordinator in his/her absence.
4. Maintaining a schedule of planned events by Quarter.
5. Maintaining an event file on each scheduled State Partnership Program event including the event checklist.
6. Acting as Point of Contact for the Office of Defense Coordinator for all State Partnership Program events.
7. Coordinating with Points of Contact assigned to receive HN personnel for Familiarization Visits.
8. Acting as main Point of Contact with State Partner for the State Partnership Program.
9. Managing events to insure continuing response to HN requirements.
10. Ensuring follow-up actions are completed upon the conclusion of each event: After Action Reports, update the Historical File, close out of the active event file and develop follow-on events.
11. Maintaining communication with the Long-Range Planner, Regional Program Manager and component desk officers of USEUCOM.
12. Coordinating HN employee activities.
13. Coordinating the activities of the HN Liaison Officer.
14. Coordinating logistics requirements for all State Partnership Program events.
15. Coordinating procurement of Visas for HN nationals with required embassies for conduct of State Partnership Program business, if required.
16. Developing Concept Sheets.
17. Coordinating In-Country Planning Conference with the Long-Range Planner and Office of Defense Coordinator.
18. Maintaining communication and coordination with the State Partnership Program State.

As part of their initial training, Bilateral Affairs Officers are required to attend the Security Cooperation Management – Overseas Course at the Defense Institute of Security Cooperation Studies (DISCS) School located in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The Security Cooperation Management – Overseas Course is a two-week course that provides a functional knowledge of: security cooperation, security assistance policies, procedures for; US personnel with assignments to overseas Security Cooperation Organizations, Defense Attaché Offices, COCOM's and their component elements. As an integral part of their studies students are acquainted with: current issues in US foreign policy and international affairs, United States Government business management practices in Foreign Military Sales and a full spectrum of security cooperation programs.^[1]

The Bilateral Affairs Officer also receives training in a myriad of other subjects, including: International Military Education & Training, Humanitarian Assistance Programs, Military-to-Military Event Planning Cycle, Military-to-Military Event Execution and Military-to-Military Order Procedures. However, training for each COCOM slightly varies and may depend on a particular area or type of project that the COCOM is focused on. Training for these types of programs are provided by the COCOM and are part of the tool-kit the Bilateral Affairs Officer needs in order to execute their mission.^[1]