The Department of State and the Government of Jordan today inaugurated a new regional counterterrorism training facility south of Amman.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Michael T. Evanoff , U.S. Embassy Amman Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. Wooster, His Royal Highness Prince Rashid, and Jordanian Gendarmerie Director Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh formally dedicated the new Jordanian Gendarmerie Training Academy, which was funded, constructed, and equipped through the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program.

Once fully operational, the new training center, part of a larger Gendarmerie training facility, will double ATA’s regional counterterrorism training capacity in Jordan in hard skills such as crisis response, explosive incident countermeasures, post-blast investigations, and tactical medicine.

For 30 years, the Government of Jordan has proven itself a steadfast partner of the ATA program and has contributed significantly to U.S. efforts to advance the counterterrorism capabilities of law enforcement agencies in the region.
Through the ATA program, Jordan has become a regional training hub where ATA has trained not only Jordanian police but also police from at least 21 other nations.

Established in 1983, the Department of State’s ATA program is the U.S. government’s premier counterterrorism training and equipment provider for foreign law enforcement agencies. All ATA assistance is delivered within a rule-of-law framework that promotes respect for human rights and fosters development of a self-sustaining capability through best practices such as embedded mentors and train-the-trainer programs.

ATA receives funding and policy guidance from the Bureau of Counterterrorism and is administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and its Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

Through ATA, DSS personnel build the critical counterterrorism capabilities of law enforcement partners abroad with both knowledge-enhancing training courses and tactical skills development to detect, deter, and disrupt terrorist activities. With its cutting-edge curriculum and equipment grants, the ATA program continues to contribute greatly to the security of our nation, our partners worldwide, and overall international peace and stability.