New State-Defense Personnel Exchange Agreement Reached

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 19, 2012

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The Department of State is pleased to announce a new Memorandum of Understanding on the Non-Reimbursable Exchange of Personnel with the Department of Defense. This agreement establishes the most significant formal exchange of personnel between the two departments in history and will be beneficial to both Departments, particularly in the budgeting and planning processes.

This new agreement formalizes the reciprocal exchange of personnel between the two Departments. The number of Department of Defense personnel assigned to various positions in the State Department has increased from 50 to 98. Additionally, the number of diplomats serving on the staffs of senior military commanders under the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) program, managed by the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, has doubled to nearly 90 personnel over the past four years.

Today, State Department POLADs have been assigned to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to every Service headquarters, to every Unified Combatant Command, and to a number of component and subordinate commands. The agreement also calls for nearly 30 State Department personnel to serve at U.S. military service academies and academic institutions that shape the military leaders of tomorrow.

The expansion of personnel exchanges between departments will offer more opportunities for both State and Defense personnel to gain a greater understanding of the shared missions, furthering the ability to collaborate effectively in support of U.S. national security.

ENDS

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