S332a.1.1. Ministry of Defense Advisor Program. Section 332(a) grants the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), with Secretary of State concurrence, the authority to assign trained, senior DoD civilian and military experts as advisors to partner ministries of defense (or security agencies serving a similar defense function) and regional organizations with security missions. Such advisors provide institutional, ministerial-level advice, and other training to personnel of the ministry or regional organization to which assigned in support of stabilization or post-conflict activities; or assist such ministry or regional organization in building core institutional capacity, competencies, and capabilities to manage defense-related processes. DSCA implements this authority through the Ministry of Defense Advisor (MoDA) program, managed by the Institutional Capacity Building Directorate.

S332a.1.2. DoD personnel serving as a MoDA attend a 7-week pre-deployment training program focused on advising skills, capacity building methodologies, force protection, language, history, and culture. The MoDA program reimburses DoD advisor parent organizations for unique personnel pay and deployment cost. Reimbursement includes reimbursement of premium pays and reimbursement for temporary personnel backfills to the advisor’s parent organizations. The MoDA program also funds program management support functions as required to recruit, train, and deploy advisors DoD.