What we know about US military's program to train foreign troops
Thousands of students are in program
By:
Zachary Cohen and Barbara Starr, CNN
Posted: Dec 06, 2019 09:15 PM CST
Updated: Dec 06, 2019 09:15 PM CST
Florida State Troopers block traffic over the Bayou Grande Bridge leading to the Pensacola Naval Air Station following a shooting on December 06, 2019 in Pensacola, Florida. The second shooting on a U.S. Naval Base in a week has left three dead plus the suspect and seven people wounded.
(CNN) - Pentagon programs to train foreign nationals are coming under new scrutiny after the man suspected of opening fire at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida Friday, killing at least three people and injuring several others, was identified as a member of the Saudi Arabian military.
As of Friday, the Department of Defense has 5,181 foreign students from 153 countries in the US for security cooperation related training, according to Pentagon spokesperson Christopher Garver, who noted that "the Department of Defense vets foreign nationals traveling to the United States for Defense Department-related training.
"The Saudi National was in the United States for training pursuant to a US Air Force Foreign Military Sales training case funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His training began in August of 2017 and was scheduled to conclude in August of 2020," Garver said.
https://military.einnews.com/article/504233924?lcf=W49szLwhmPXW7FsUMS6JFqPz7FZXG7uNY7L1sWdBDYE%3D
