International Training

The breakup of the former Soviet Union and the move to democracy by all of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe is forcing profound change, not only in the region, but throughout the world. These changes are not merely political, but have significant impact on national economies, social structures, and law enforcement. The weakening or elimination of borders and the increased availability of electronic forms of communication and commerce have allowed criminals almost unlimited mobility. These social, political, and economic changes have occurred much faster than the ability of law enforcement to respond to these new challenges. This is particularly true in some emerging democracies of the world, who have ill-equipped and poorly trained police, little if any money, and inadequate laws that are not effective in allowing the police to attack organized criminal enterprises. If these organized criminal enterprises with roots elsewhere in the world are allowed to grow and migrate beyond their borders, they will inevitably invade the United States.

The Director of the FBI is charged with the duty to detect, investigate, and assist in the prosecution of crimes committed against the United States and its citizens. The establishment of effective international police liaison is a critical task in carrying out this mission. The development of effective police training programs are proven ways to ensure international police cooperation.

The mission of the International Training Section, located at Quantico, Virginia, is to administer and coordinate all international mission-oriented training for the FBI. Through coordination with other FBI operational divisions, the International Relations Section, Department of Justice - Office of International Programs, the Department of State, and affected United States' embassies overseas, prioritized training is provided in support of the FBI's international investigative responsibilities.

International training initiatives fall into seven basic categories:

International country assessments/evaluations and/or needs analysis
International in-country (outside the 50 states) training
International training conducted in the United States
FBI instructor development and cultural awareness
International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA), Budapest, Hungary and Bankok, Thailand
Mexican/American Law Enforcement Training (MALET) initiative
The Pacific Rim Training Initiative (PTI)