§351 Inter-American Defense College

Summary

The Secretary of Defense may let military members and DoD civilian staff help run and support the Inter‑American Defense College. The DoD can give logistic help, supplies, and use of its facilities and equipment when needed to help the college teach advanced courses to military officers and civilian officials from Organization of American States members. The goal is to keep the college’s program at the same quality as DoD senior service colleges and to include topics like security cooperation, human rights, disaster relief, peacekeeping, and democracy in the Americas. With the Secretary of State’s agreement, the Secretary of Defense must make a memorandum of understanding with the Inter‑American Defense Board before DoD people or host‑nation support are provided. That agreement must explain any cost‑sharing if DoD facilities, equipment, or funds are used, and must include the college’s curriculum and a plan to develop it. DoD operation and maintenance funds may pay many support costs (such as participant expenses, faculty, curriculum and translation work, IT, utilities, and facility upkeep), but may not pay the salaries of the participating military or civilian DoD staff. Funds may cover activities that start in one fiscal year and finish in the next. The Secretary may waive reimbursement from developing countries (as defined in section 301 of this title) if doing so serves U.S. national security. The term “logistic support, supplies, and services” is defined in section 2350 of this title.