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What is an end-use monitoring compliance assessment visit (CAV)?

Q: What is an end-use monitoring compliance assessment visit?

The Golden Sentry End Use Monitoring (EUM) program includes in-country visits. There are three types of EUM visits. Familiarization and Assistance Visits (FAV) Compliance Assessment Visits (CAV) or Virtual Compliance Assessments (VCA) Focused EUM Verification Assessments (FEVA)

Updated 23 September 2026Checked against the SAMM: 26 September 2026

A compliance assessment visit (CAV) is the review DSCA makes in country under the Golden Sentry end-use monitoring program. It checks the security cooperation organization's compliance with end-use monitoring policy and the partner's compliance with the security and accountability terms of its transfer agreements. DSCA can run the same review remotely as a virtual compliance assessment, and it plans the visits two years ahead.

What is an end-use monitoring compliance assessment visit?

CAVs review and evaluate the compliance of SCOs and other USG organizations with the Golden Sentry Program and related laws, policies, and regulations, and the international partner’s compliance with the terms and conditions for the transfer of defense articles and services, including specific physical security and accountability provisos pertaining to sensitive technologies. Activities during a CAV include facility visits, record reviews, assessments of routine and enhanced EUM policies and procedures, and inventories of U.S.-origin defense articles and/or services. EUM CAVs are coordinated well in advance with the CCMDs, SCOs, and partners concerned.

SAMM C8.5.3 — End Use Monitoring Compliance Assessment Visit Guidance.

The purpose of a CAV or VCA is to review and evaluate the SCO's (or equivalent organization/office) compliance with Golden Sentry EUM policy and procedures in accordance with Table C8.T2., by using the SCO checklist (available in the Security Cooperation Information Portal (SCIP)-EUM database), and the partner's compliance with specific physical security and accountability requirements, as well as other terms stated in the transfer agreements, such as an Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA). Activities during a CAV or VCA may include storage site visits, record and documentation reviews, review of Routine EUM (REUM) and Enhanced EUM (EEUM) policies and procedures, and inventories of U.S.-provided defense articles. EUM CAVs or VCAs are coordinated in advance with the CCMD, SCO, and the partner to ensure the success of the assessment. To maximize resources and minimize disruptions, EUM site visits should be arranged to coincide with the scheduled partner’s inventory dates whenever possible. Table C8.T6. outlines the timeline and formal requirements to ensure a well-coordinated and documented EUM CAV or VCA. Informal correspondence may occur prior to these actions. Inability to obtain proper entry credentials for the CAV or VCA Team from the partner will result in unfavorable reports.

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SAMM C8.5.4 — End Use Monitoring Virtual Compliance Assessments Guidance.

A VCA is conducted similar to a CAV (See Section C8.5.3.); however, conducted remotely and without travel by DSCA personnel. DSCA may conduct a VCA when circumstances exist that impede travel or other limitations where DSCA deems a VCA necessary. A VCA consists of reviewing and evaluating SCO compliance with Golden Sentry EUM Policy and partners' compliance with specific physical security and accountability agreements, provisos, and other terms stated in transfer agreements. However, a VCA does not provide the same degree of assessment as a CAV. The VCA timeline and requirements are identified in Table C8.T6. The VCA Guidance Plan can be found in the SCIP-EUM database.

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DSCA sends an annual message to all CCMDs and SCOs listing the countries that are subject to a CAV in the following two year period. The two-year CAV plan is revalidated or revised annually as necessary through coordination between DSCA, the CCMDs, and the SCOs.

SAMM C8.5.6.1 — Security Cooperation Organization Compliance Assessment.

SCO responsibilities are stated in the SCO checklist published in the SCIP-EUM database. Table C8.T2. depicts the type of information contained within SCO checklists:

Implementation of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to perform REUM and EEUM;
Implementation of physical security and accountability plan(s) (Night Vision Device (NVD) Control Plan) for the protection, storage, use and accountability of NVDs;
Maintenance of records assessing REUM and EEUM defense articles;
Accuracy of the partner's EEUM-designated defense articles baseline as per the EEUM Reconciliation Report provided in the SCIP-EUM database;
Timely performance of physical security and accountability assessments of all EEUM-designated or defense articles in accordance with DoW Golden Sentry EEUM checklists;
Use of the SCIP-EUM database to track inventories and to maintain an accurate disposition of EEUM-designated defense articles;
Verification and proper coordination with Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (State (PM/RSAT)) for the demilitarization, disposal, or destruction of EEUM-designated defense articles;
Accuracy and timeliness of reporting losses, expenditures, and destruction of EEUM-designated defense articles; and
Proper coordination with State PM/RSAT regarding third-party transfer requests and approvals.

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SAMM C8.5.7 — Partner Compliance Assessment.

Partner responsibilities are stated in the terms of the transfer agreements for U.S.-provided defense articles and services, including:

Cooperation and coordination with USG officials to implement and maintain a viable EUM program for REUM and EEUM, including CAVs, VCAs, and FEVAs conducted by DSCA or authorized USG personnel;
Mitigation or resolution of potential end use violations found during the assessments or previously reported by the SCO;
Implementation of NVD physical security and accountability plan(s) (NVD Control Plan) as required;
Implementation of physical security and accountability measures at storage sites maintaining EEUM-designated defense articles in accordance with the terms of the LOA or other transfer agreements;
Reporting of EEUM-designated defense articles losses and of actions taken to prevent future losses (as appropriate), and transparency in reporting history; and
Accurate and timely requests for, and reports of, demilitarization, disposal, destruction, loss, expenditure, or other change of end use of USG-provided defense articles.

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References

Drawn exclusively from publicly available authorities.

SAMM

SAMM C8.5.1 — End Use Monitoring Visit Guidance.
SAMM C8.5.3 — End Use Monitoring Compliance Assessment Visit Guidance.
SAMM C8.5.4 — End Use Monitoring Virtual Compliance Assessments Guidance.
SAMM C8.5.6.1 — Security Cooperation Organization Compliance Assessment.
SAMM C8.5.7 — Partner Compliance Assessment.

GuideWhat is end-use monitoring?GuideGolden Sentry vs Blue Lantern: what is the difference?RoleEmbassy SCO Chief (ODC / OSC)

What is an end-use monitoring compliance assessment visit (CAV)?

What is an end-use monitoring compliance assessment visit?

References

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