Antiterrorism Assistance Program

The Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA), administers the Antiterrorism Assistance Program. The ATA program trains civilian security and law enforcement personnel from friendly governments in police procedures that deal with terrorism. DS officers work with the host country's government and a team from that country's U.S. mission to develop the most effective means of training for bomb detection, crime scene investigation, airport and building security, maritime protections, and VIP protection.

DS assesses the training needs, develops the curriculum, and provides the resources to conduct the training. The bureau uses its own training experts as well as those from other U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, police associations, and private security firms and consultants.

Most ATA program recipients are developing nations lacking human and other resources needed to maintain an effective antiterrorism program and infrastructure. ATA training seeks to address deficiencies noted in the ability to perform the following areas:

• Protecting national borders
• Protecting critical infrastructure
• Protecting national leadership
• Responding to and resolving terrorist incidents
• Managing critical terrorists incidents having national-level implications

Since its inception in 1983, the program has trained and assisted over 48,000 foreign security and law enforcement officials from 141 countries. These foreign security and law enforcement personnel have primary responsibility in their nations to take the offensive against international terrorist cells and networks that seek to target Americans overseas and at home. These officials also respond to and mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks that occur in their nations. By helping to strengthen the participating countries antiterrorism training capabilities, we help protect Americans living or traveling overseas.