Guide
What is the Military Assistance Program Address Directory (MAPAD)?
The holds the addresses used to ship materiel and send its documentation: freight forwarders, country representatives and in-country addresses, each coded by type, with each purchaser's special instructions. The purchaser is responsible for keeping its addresses current; a stale address can mean misrouted cargo and storage charges.
What is the Military Assistance Program Address Directory (MAPAD)?
The website contains the addresses required for shipment of materiel and distribution of related documentation under and /Grant Aid. It is considered one of the most important single elements in the supply and transportation process. The is available for use by DoW activities, the General Services Administration, commercial firms, foreign governments, and international organizations participating in and /Grant Aid Programs. The is an internet-accessible database.
The contains addresses and corresponding address codes to identify where materiel/documentation is to be shipped. It includes addresses of Offices, freight forwarders, country representatives, and customer addresses within the country. Generally, the information is coded to provide the following:
- A shipping address for parcel post, small package shipments, and freight
- An address to receive
- An address to receive supply and shipment status
- Mark-for addresses for in-country destinations
- Post Office Addresses: Military post office addresses (/DPO) will not be used for shipments unless specified in the . These addresses must also be approved by the applicable service prior to publication in the .
- International Mail Addressees: International mail addresses and addresses of U.S. activities also require service approval and specification in the .
- Classified Shipment Addresses: Some countries have and other addresses published in the for the receipt of classified shipments. Once Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) has cleared a facility/ to handle classified materiel, DCSA will send a letter of clearance to the Defense Logistics Management Standards Office that will enter the correct addresses into the . Although the may be cleared to handle classified materiel, the preceding the shipment must be sent to the foreign representative identified in the special instructions, not the 3 address. The foreign representative is typically at the customer’s embassy in Washington, DC, or a foreign government office located in the U.S.
References
SAMM
- SAMM C7.7.2.1 — Type Address Code.
- SAMM C7.7.2.2 — Special Instructions.
- SAMM C7.7.3 — Military Assistance Program Address Directory Address Changes.
Related
Military Assistance Program Address Directory (MAPAD)
A directory that contains the addresses of country representatives, freight forwarders, and customers-within-country required for releasing Foreign Military Sales and Military Assistance Program Grant Aid shipments, and addresses required for forwarding of related documentation.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
A process, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, through which eligible foreign governments and international organizations may purchase defense articles, services, and training from the United States Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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MAPAD — Military Assistance Program Address Directory
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Military Assistance Program Address Directory (MAPAD) →
FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Military Assistance Program (MAP)
That portion of the United States Security Assistance program authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, which once provided defense articles and services to recipients on a nonreimbursable (grant) basis. Funding for MAP was consolidated under the Foreign Military Financing program beginning in Fiscal Year 1990.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Security Cooperation
Activities undertaken by the DoD to encourage and enable international partners to work with the United States to achieve strategic objectives. It includes all DoD interactions with foreign defense and security establishments, including all DoD-administered security assistance programs, that: build defense and security relationships that promote specific U.S. security interests, including all international armaments cooperation activities and security assistance activities; develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations; and provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access to host nations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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NOA — Notice of Availability
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Defense Transportation System (DTS)
The portion of the worldwide transportation infrastructure that supports DoD transportation needs in peace and war. DTS consists of two major elements: military and commercial resources. These resources include aircraft, assets, services, and systems organic to, contracted for, or controlled by the DoD. DoD's infrastructure, including ports, airlift, sealift, railway, highway, in-transit visibility, information management systems, customs, and traffic management that the DoD maintains and exercises in peacetime, is a vital element of the DoD's capability to project power worldwide. It provides for responsive force projection and a seamless transition between peacetime and wartime operations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Freight Forwarder
A commercial import/export company registered with the Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and under contract to the Foreign Military Sales customer which arranges transportation of materiel from a point specified in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance to the final destination.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Combatant Command (CCMD)
A unified or specified command with a broad continuing mission under a single commander established and so designated by the President, through the Secretary of Defense and with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also called CCMD.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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SCO — Security Cooperation Organization
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Implementing Agency (IA)
The military department or defense agency responsible for the execution of military assistance programs. With respect to FMS, the military department or defense agency assigned responsibility by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to prepare an LOA and to implement an FMS case. The implementing agency is responsible for the overall management of the actions that will result in delivery of the materials or services set forth in the LOA that was accepted by a foreign country or international organization.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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