text: Strategic Context
  POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS
  1-75. The political-military affairs office within the country team is the DOS’s principal link to the DOD.
  This office provides policy direction in the areas of international security, SA, military operations, defense
  strategy and plans, and defense trade by—
  • Ensuring commercial exports of defense articles and services advance U.S. national security and
  foreign policy objectives.
  • Promoting and facilitating closer synchronization and coordination between DOS and DOD through
  the management of the foreign policy advisor and military advisor programs.
  • Managing 22 USC military grant assistance and concurrence/coordination on various DOD 10 USC
  authorities.
  • Coordinating, negotiating, and concluding international agreements to meet U.S. security
  requirements.
  SDO/DATT
  1-76. DODD 5205.75 assigns the responsibilities for the operation of the DOD elements at U.S. embassies.
  This directive creates the position of SDO/DATT as the principal DOD official in a U.S. embassy as
  designated by the Secretary of Defense. Joint responsibility for the oversight and management of the
  SDO/DATT is delegated to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Under Secretary of Defense
  for Intelligence.
  1-77. The SDO/DATT is the chief of mission’s principal military advisor on defense and national security
  issues. The SDO/DATT is also the senior diplomatically accredited DOD military officer assigned to a
  diplomatic mission and serves as the single point of contact for all DOD matters involving the embassy or
  DOD elements assigned to or working from the embassy.
  1-78. The SDO/DATT is the key figure within the embassy and the combatant command for establishing
  and fostering the SC relationship with the host country. This is best accomplished through influence, advice,
  and expertise—and not necessarily through established authority. Establishing a good relationship begins
  with a sharing of interests and ideas. The SDO/DATT should recognize that there is a common foundation
  upon which to build rapport with host-nation military counterparts, namely the responsibility to provide for
  internal and external security and be a responsible member within the existing regional security architecture.
  The problems of DOTMLPF-P are common to the armed forces of all nations. The successful SDO/DATT
  will take a sincere personal interest in the host nation’s culture, history, customs, and religion, and likewise
  will cultivate both personal and professional relationships with local counterparts, which often forms the
  basis of life-long contacts and friendships.
  SECURITY COOPERATION ORGANIZATIONS
  1-79. These organizations include all DOD elements located in a foreign country with assigned
  responsibilities for carrying out SC management functions. Security cooperation organizations work under
  the authority of the COM. Security cooperation organizations may be referred to as military assistance
  advisory groups, military missions and groups, offices of defense and military cooperation, liaison groups,
  and defense attaché personnel who have been designated to perform SC functions.
  1-80. The SCO has the greatest visibility over the coordination and execution of SC activities and the partner
  nation’s ability to build and sustain enduring capacity. Generally, the SCO has responsibility for monitoring
  and evaluating the results of SC activities to inform COM and combatant command decision making. Title
  22 USC, Section 2321i outlines the seven legislated SCO SA functions as follows:
  * Equipment and services case management (for example, FMS case management).
  * Training management.
  * Program monitoring.
  * Evaluation and planning of the host-nation government’s military capabilities and requirements.
  * Administrative support.