May 22, 2017
by Claire Aiello

If you’re in charge of buying military equipment for Saudia Arabia or India, sure, you could buy from the Chinese or the Russians. You might save a few bucks but you’ll miss out on crucial services you’ll need – like training and maintenance to keep those high-tech helicopters, tanks and missile launchers working. The United States provides these services and more.

The U.S. Army’s Security Assistance Command handles foreign military sales with 150 countries, acting as a broker with embassies and combatant commands. USASAC then fulfills orders, ships the equipment and provides on-the-ground training for operation and maintenance.

“The USA’s long game is better,” said Major General Stephen E. Farmen, Commanding General of the USASAC office on Redstone Arsenal. “You’re on our team for the long haul.”

MG Farmen and his team visited the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County this week to talk with our team about his post and learn more about the Rocket City.  In discussing USASAC’s work, he explained their “Ready Set Go” approach:

• “Ready” for the warfighting challenges of today
• “Set” for conditions for tomorrow
• “Go” through Trust and Teamwork

USASAC is constantly evaluating the current fight, from now through 2025 and ahead to what the battlefield of the future will resemble in 2026 and beyond. “Robotics and other emerging technologies will shape the next fight,” said MG Farmen.

In describing his command’s mission and the countries they serve, “USASAC delivers the four T’s: Trust, Transparency, Teamwork and the Total Package Approach,” said MG Farmen.

USASAC has a total of about 2,000 employees. Two hundred and fifty work in Huntsville.

MG Farmen has been stationed in Huntsville for a year and said our city is poised for more growth. He enjoys spending time in the downtown area and he also enjoys playing golf in his spare time.