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What is a mobile training team (MTT) in security cooperation?

Updated 27 September 2026Checked against the SAMM: 26 September 2026

A is a team of U.S. personnel on temporary duty who train international personnel in their own country, often on the equipment the country has bought. Training teams can be cheaper and quicker than sending many students to U.S. schools, and can be tailored to the country. An bought through is furnished under a and may cross fiscal years. Longer-term support comes from and technical assistance field teams.

What is a mobile training team?

At times, it may be more expedient and cost effective to request that U.S. personnel conduct training in country (via a “team” of instructors) rather than sending a large number of IMSs to the U.S. or to a U.S. military installation overseas. Often, the cost of deploying a training team may be less than sending the students to the U.S. If there are limited or no seats available in a U.S. military school, it may be quicker to train a large number of students from the same country at once by means of a training team. training teams may be requested for a particular training task over a specific period of time. A few other advantages of exported training include the ability to tailor the training to fit the specific needs of a particular country as well as being able to train using the actual equipment that the country owns. Furthermore, it might be possible to use interpreters during training in country, at the country’s expense. This can be beneficial if a large number of students cannot speak English and it is determined that it will take too long for them to learn English at the level needed.

Mobile Training Teams () and Mobile Education Teams (). and consist of DoW military, civilian, and/or contract personnel on temporary duty to train international personnel in country. The team members may be from or overseas units/organizations, and the training may be conducted in the or overseas using equipment owned by or allocated for delivery to the purchaser and recipient country. and are authorized for specific in-country training requirements, training associated with equipment transfer, or to conduct surveys and assessments of training requirements. They may normally be programmed for periods up to 179 days, including travel time. -sponsored must be programmed to terminate on or before 30 September of the fiscal year in which they perform their duties. -funded teams may span fiscal years, if necessary.

Provisions must also be made in advance for purchasing associated tool sets, training aids, and other support items needed from the and having them in place in the country when the team arrives. Once in country, the team reports to and comes under supervision of the chief.

Field training services and technical assistance field teams

. FTS is the generic term for provided from DoW resources and for provided under MILDEP contract from U.S.-industry sources. These teams provide advice, instruction, and training in the installation, operation, and maintenance of weapons, equipment, and other systems.

Technical Assistance Field Teams (). are DoW and/or contractor personnel deployed in a status for the purpose of providing in-country technical or maintenance support to foreign personnel on specific equipment, technology, weapons, and supporting systems when and are not appropriate for the purpose. Normally, do not have training as a primary mission of the team. However, one must refer to the mission statement of the to see if the provision of training, formally or informally, is included. may not be funded under the program.

References

Drawn exclusively from publicly available authorities.

SAMM

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