MILITARY TRAINING
Foreign Military Education and Training
_The Foreign Military Education and Training (FMET) program is an instrument of the German security and foreign policy and a key component of German security assistance that provides training and education on a grant basis to students from allied and friendly nations. In addition to improving defense capabilities, FMET facilitates the development of important professional and personal relationships, which have proven to provide German access and influence in a critical sector of society that often plays a pivotal role in supporting, or transitioning to, democratic governments. FMET's traditional purpose of promoting more professional militaries around the world through training has taken on greater importance as an effective means to strengthen military alliances and the international coalition against terrorism.
The objectives of the FMET program are to:
Training and education provided under the FMET program is professional and non-political, exposing foreign students to German professional military organizations and procedures and the manner in which military organizations function under civilian control. Classes are given in the English language for many FMET-funded courses; however some classes are solely in German. The classes utilize all the regular Bundeswehr training facilities and equipment and as a result let the student come into contact with the regular German soldiers as well. The FMET program exposes students to military systems and procedures and promotes the development of strong civil-military relations by showing key military and civilian leaders how to overcome barriers that can exist between armed forces, civilian officials and legislators. In addition, FMET has a positive effect on participants and recipient countries beyond actual training.
The objectives of the FMET program are to:
- Further the goal of regional stability through effective, mutually beneficial military-to-military relations that culminate in increased understanding and defense cooperation between Germany and foreign countries.
- Impart skills and knowledge that help participating countries develop new capabilities and better utilize their existing resources.
- Provide training and education that augments the capabilities of participant nations' military forces to support combined operations and interoperability with German and NATO forces.
- Expose foreign military and civilian personnel to the important roles democratic values and internationally recognized human rights can play in governance and military operations.
Training and education provided under the FMET program is professional and non-political, exposing foreign students to German professional military organizations and procedures and the manner in which military organizations function under civilian control. Classes are given in the English language for many FMET-funded courses; however some classes are solely in German. The classes utilize all the regular Bundeswehr training facilities and equipment and as a result let the student come into contact with the regular German soldiers as well. The FMET program exposes students to military systems and procedures and promotes the development of strong civil-military relations by showing key military and civilian leaders how to overcome barriers that can exist between armed forces, civilian officials and legislators. In addition, FMET has a positive effect on participants and recipient countries beyond actual training.