| Ministry of Interior - Military Assistance Group (MOI-MAG) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Role | Security Assistance Organization |
| Size | 100[1] |
| Part of |  United States Army Security Assistance Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Eskan Village, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Website | https://usasac.army.mil/moimag/About.html |
Ministry of Interior - Military Assistance Group (MOI-MAG), previously called Facilities Security Forces- Training and Advisory Group (FSF-TAG), is a component of United States Army Security Assistance Command headquartered at Eskan Village in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[2] Although it reports to USASAC, the unit commander falls under the leadership of the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia who has overall responsibility for all US Government activities in Saudi Arabia, similar to the other U.S. units based within Saudi Arabia, USMTM and OPM-SANG.[2] In addition to their headquarters in Riyadh, MOI-MAG also has teams in Jeddah and Damman.[2]
MOI-MAG is a Security Assistance Organization that trains, advises and equips Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior security forces to protect critical infrastructure, i.e. oil refineries, oil pipelines, water desalination and electric power plants. They are the only United States military unit that trains another country's Ministry of Interior security forces.[1]
History edit
Following the February 2006 attack on the Saudi Aramco Abqaiq Petroleum Stabilization Plant FSF-TAG was formally created via the 2008 Memorandum of Understanding signed between then Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Nayif Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.[3]
With the continued growth in security partnerships between the United States and Saudi Arabia the FSF-TAG was expanded and restructured in 2015. It was renamed Ministry of Interior - Military Assistance Group and transferred from United States Central Command to the United States Army Material Command reporting to the Security Assistance Command.[3] It also operates under the State Department within the Office of Program Management of the Ministry of Interior and has interagency pacts with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Treasury Department and other agencies.
In 2014 a proposed $80million in sales to Saudi Arabia to continue what was at the time FSF-TAG would have been for technical assistance and advisory support salaries, housing, office equipment, training, maintenance, vehicles, travel, furniture, and other related support.[4]
Organization edit
Past Program Managers edit
- BG Robert Catalanotti
- Col. Gary McGinnis
- Col. Matt Holbert
See also edit
- OPM-SANG subordinate of United States Army Security Assistance Command trains, advises, equips the Saudi National Guard - also headquartered at Eskan Village
- USMTM subordinate of CENTCOM trains, advises, equips the Saudi military - also headquartered at Eskan Village
References edit
- ^ a b "Deployed Soldiers train Saudi security forces". Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c "MOI-MAG About Us". Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Security Assistance Growth Prompts Restructuring". Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/kingdom-saudi-arabia-support-services-0
Category:Saudi Arabia–United States military relations Category:Military units and formations established in 2008 Category:United States Security Assistance Organizations Category:Saudi Arabia–United States relations