BiblioScholar The Joint Contact Team Program

The Joint Contact Team Program is a EUCOM military-to-military engagement program designed to foster relationships, illustrate the standard of U.S. style military under civilian control, and promote stability, democratization, military professionalism, and closer ties to NATO for host nation countries. There are currently over 20 participating countries on the European and African continents. Unforeseen developments and challenges have shown the world to be a more dangerous place than first believed at the end of the Cold War. It is more important than ever to develop strong strategic relationships and stimulate cooperation in areas we had not previously foreseen. The U.S. must practice a policy of active engagement and the U.S. military should be a key player not only in times of conflict, but just as importantly, in times of peace. Assisting the Joint Contact Team Program participating countries in bettering their civil-military relations and their militaries is not only in their best interests, but also in the best interests of the U.S. Since its inception in 1993, the Joint Contact Team Program has played an important role in helping ten of its member countries in Eastern Europe achieve NATO membership. The Joint Contact Team Program is a proven model for military-to-military engagement.