---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 351"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "351"
heading: "Inter-American Defense College"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/351"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part I — Organization and General Military Powers"
  - "Chapter 16 — Security Cooperation"
  - "Subchapter V — Educational and Training Activities"
---

# §351. Inter-American Defense College

- (a) **Authority To Support.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may authorize members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) and civilian personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense to participate in the operation of and the provision of support to the Inter-American Defense College and provide logistic support, [supplies](/usc/10/3011.md?p=8), and services to the Inter-American Defense College, including the use of [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) and equipment, as the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) considers necessary to—
  - (1) assist the Inter-American Defense College in its mission to develop and offer to [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) and civilian officials from member [states](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) of the Organization of American [States](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) advanced academic courses on matters related to [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) and defense issues, the inter-American system, and related disciplines; and
  - (2) ensure that the Inter-American Defense College provides an academic [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of a level of quality, rigor, and credibility that is commensurate with the [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) of [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense senior service colleges and that [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) the promotion of security cooperation, human rights, humanitarian assistance and disaster [response](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), peacekeeping, and democracy in the Western Hemisphere.
- (b) **Memorandum of Understanding.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Inter-American Defense Board for the participation of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) and civilian personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense in the operation of and provision of host nation support to the Inter-American Defense College under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) If [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), equipment, or funds will be used to support the Inter-American Defense College under [subsection (a)](#a), a memorandum of understanding entered into under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall include a description of any cost-sharing arrangement or other funding arrangement relating to the use of such [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), equipment, or funds.
  - (3) A memorandum of understanding entered into under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall also include a curriculum and a plan for academic [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) development.
- (c) **Use of Funds.—**
  - (1) Funds appropriated to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense for operation and maintenance may be used to [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) costs that the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines are necessary for the participation of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) and civilian personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense in the operation of and provision of host nation support to the Inter-American Defense College, including—
    - (A) the costs of expenses of such participants;
    - (B) the cost of hiring and retaining qualified professors, instructors, and lecturers;
    - (C) curriculum support costs, including administrative costs, academic outreach, and curriculum support personnel;
    - (D) the cost of translation and interpretation services;
    - (E) the cost of information and educational technology;
    - (F) the cost of utilities; and
    - (G) the cost of maintenance and repair of [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).
  - (2) No funds may be used under this section to provide for the [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) or civilian personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense who participate in the operation of and the provision of host nation support to the Inter-American Defense College under this section.
  - (3) Funds available to carry out this section for a fiscal year may be used for activities that begin in such fiscal year and end in the next fiscal year.
- (d) **Waiver of Reimbursement.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may waive reimbursement for [developing countries](/usc/10/301.md?p=4) (as such term is defined in [section 301 of this title](/usc/10/301.md)) of the costs of funding and other host nation support provided to the Inter-American Defense College under this section if the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines that the provision of such funding or support without reimbursement is in the [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) interest of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).
- (e) **Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services Defined.—** In this section, the term “logistic support, [supplies](/usc/10/3011.md?p=8), and services” has the meaning given that term in [section 2350 of this title](/usc/10/2350.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XII, § 1207(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2019.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 351 was renumbered section 261 of this title.