Department of State’s flagship law enforcement and paramilitary training engagement program.

GATA fosters cooperation between U.S. law enforcement, rule of law agencies, and partner nations engaged in antiterrorism efforts across several levels.

IDS supports GATA II objectives to strengthen capacity, building trusted and sustainable networks of partner nation institutions and professionals by improving the technical capabilities, as well as the political will of partner nations in combating terrorism. We support multiple areas with a concentration that includes:

• Capstone exercises involving multiple agencies and countries
• Curriculum development
• Special consultations
• Broad scope of work ranging from counter improvised explosive devices (C-IED) to cyber

Supporting GATA II objectives, IDS provides experienced trainers, advisors, mentors, operational SMEs, development instructors, as well as managerial, logistical, infrastructure and administrative support personnel. We are responsible for sourcing, vetting, pre-deployment training, deployment, management, and retention of hundreds of advisors and trainers. Our professionals execute every activity involved with training delivery and knowledge transfer under the GATA II program. These activities range from two-week capabilities assessments to training teams spending extensive periods of time in the field delivering wide arrays of functional, leadership, and integration training.

Customized programs are developed and delivered in response to experiences, changes in law enforcement emphasis, international and political circumstances, new technologies, and specific requests of partner nations seeking to improve their antiterrorism capacity. Special programs are often of a technical, tactical, management, or cyber nature and program personnel include subject matter experts, program coordinators, and training support specialists with expertise in developing and delivering training for foreign adult learners.

To date, IDS has conducted over 250 courses under GATA II.

IDS programs under the vehicle include:

• Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR) Program – IDS trains and sustains US-vetted local nationals as quick reaction force (QRF) to US Embassy threats. QRF teams are an integral component of a U.S. Embassy’s, Regional Security Office (RSO), security response capabilities.
  • Under SPEAR, IDS trains and equips specially selected host-nation law enforcement officers, enabling their affiliated units as the first tactical responders to emergencies involving U.S. diplomatic facilities or personnel.
  • Launched in 2014 in response to the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, and subsequent recommendations by the Secretary of State’s Accountability Review Board, the Department of State bolstered security at several high and critical threat embassies and consulates. The SPEAR program is central to this effort, with QRFs responding within minutes to any crisis.
  • U.S. Embassies and Consulates with SPEAR units include Algiers, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, and Tunisia.

• East Asia Pacific (EAP) Program – IDS provides law enforcement training, in support of the Office of Antiterrorism Assistance’s needs throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.  Our work results in developed capabilities in antiterrorism planning, coordination, and commitment, to support US counterterrorism objectives, for a variety of East Asia Pacific partner nation law enforcement agencies.