- Defense Institute of International Legal Studies
- Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program (CTFP) -...
Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program (CTFP) - Countering Terrorist Threats Requires a Level of Cooperation Between Countries
The 21st century has witnessed the emergence of terrorist threats unprecedented in their global reach, distributed nature, and willingness to target civilian populations of any creed. Using modern communication tools and media, terrorist organizations pose a grave and continuing threat to peace and stability across the globe. Countering these terrorist threats requires a level of cooperation between countries and their respective security officials never before imagined. Such cooperation can not occur without a concerted effort by nations to bring their security officials together to develop relationships and build a network that will enable them to coordinate and act quickly and effectively with partners and allies to counter emerging threats.
The Combating Terrorism (CbT) Fellowship Program is a U.S. Department of Defense program specifically designed to help reinforce the combating terrorism capabilities of partner nations, as well as build and strengthen the global network of combating terrorism experts and practitioners who are committed to fighting this threat.
Administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the CbT Fellowship Program (CTFP) has provided combating terrorism education to well over five thousand security personnel from approximately one hundred and forty countries. Education funded by the Fellowship is focused on non-U.S. mid to senior level officials who are in key positions within their nation’s combating terrorism or security organizations. Those military officials, ministry of defense civilians, and other security officials who complete CTFP-funded education and training are expected to have a positive impact on their country’s combating terrorism capabilities throughout their career. Many CTFP graduates of invitational and other individual training and education have played key roles in their country’s combating terrorism efforts, such as working in a National CT Center, developing CT policy and doctrine for their country’s security forces, or commanding national counter-terrorism assets.
Combating Terrorism Fellowship offers a variety of education resources that are designed and targeted to achieve the goals of both our partner nations and the Department of Defense, such as: Masters Degree–producing education at the National Defense University (Washington, DC) and the Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, California); individual US-based training at DoD schools, mobile education and training events, and comprehensive programs with regional and global application at the five DoD Regional Centers.
Mobile education and training events can be particularly useful as they can be tailored to address specific regional threats and challenges. Providers for such events include the Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR), the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the Defense Institute for Medical Operations (DIMO). Programs from these providers can range from the legal aspects of combating terrorism to disaster planning and management to maritime/port anti-terrorism strategy. CbT Fellowship can also fund less standard training events, such as investigative training from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Often, the students who participate in these local or regional events find themselves working together again in a real world situation. For example, requests for regionally organized seminars on "The Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism" frequently emphasize border issues that underscore the need for greater cooperation and standardization of laws to provide uniform enforcement. DIILS has presented more than 40 "Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism" seminars around the world under the auspices of the Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program. DIILS also offers a two week "Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism seminar each December that provides an in depth resident experience for participants from multiple nations.
The Security Assistance Office (SAO) in the United States Embassy in your country is the initial gateway to the Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program. Officers and officials wishing to participate in the types of programs mentioned in this paper should utilize their country’s procedures to contact the American Embassy’s Security Assistance Officer, or the Office of Defense Cooperation, to learn more about the opportunities available to them as well as the requirements for participation in these valuable programs.
For further information, please visit: www.dod.mil/policy/sections/policy_offices/gsa/ctfp/index.html