Security Force Assistance Brigade

Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) (pronounced: S Fab) are specialized United States Army units formed to train, advise, assist, enable and accompany operations with allied and partner nations.[1] SFABs are intended to reduce the burden of such operations on conventionally-organized Brigade Combat Teams, allowing BCTs to focus on fighting near-peer threats.

1st Security Force Assistance Brigade activation ceremony

Designed on the model of a standard infantry brigade combat team, SFABs are composed of roughly 800 personnel, primarily commissioned and non-commissioned officers selected from regular Army units and given additional training at the Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA) at Fort Benning, Georgia.

History

The first such unit, the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, began operations on February 8, 2018.

Overview

The mission of the SFAB is to carry out train, advise, and assist (TAA) missions overseas with foreign nation military partners. SFABs are the United States Army's latest solution to providing dedicated and trained personnel to relieve the Brigade Combat Teams from performing combat advisory missions. Before SFABs, the combat advisory role was filled by NCOs and officers detailed from the Brigade Combat Teams to train host nation military forces; leaving critical leadership billets unfilled. The introduction of the SFAB concept is intended to relieve the Brigade Combat Teams of the combat advisory mission and enable them to focus on their primary combat mission. [2] Operating in units with roughly 800 personnel, SFABs are designed to be versatile and deployable worldwide and are made up exclusively of non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers however E-4s with promotable status are accepted and receive promotion to sergeant (E-5) upon graduation of MATA.[3]

SFABs are conventional units composed of volunteers recruited from units across the Regular Army. Volunteers undergo a two-day assessment at Fort Benning which evaluates a candidate's physical fitness, decision-making, problem solving, and communications skills as well as their ethics and morals.[4] All SFAB volunteers then attend MATA training. Trainees may receive additional language training, culture training, foreign weapons training and medical training, among other topics.[5][6] The SFABs are equipped with secure, but unclassified communications gear, utilizing T2C2 (Transportable Tactical Command Communications) systems, a novel type of backpack satellite voice & data terminals.[7][8] CECOM is augmenting this gear with vehicle-mounted, and hand-carried radios.[9]

In March 2020, Logistics Advisor Team 1610, 6th Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade delivered a Vehicle Maintenance and Recovery Course to the Senegalese Army in Dakar, Senegal. This was 1st SFAB's first mission in USARAF's area of responsibility.[10]

The existence of SFABs are part of a broader trend by the US military to specialize in the provision of military aid and assistance to "weak states" in trying to stand up capable security institutions in the host-nation. However, it is unclear if the SFABs will be able to overcome the "three SFA traps" of trying to create an effective military in a recipient state that cannot afford an army, views their army as a threat, or uses that army to consolidate power and settle scores with rivals.[11]

SFAB organizational structure
  • Infantry security force assistance brigade structure[12]
  • Armored security force assistance brigade structure[12]
  • Security force assistance brigade advising team structure[12]

The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade was the first SFAB raised in the United States Army. Based in Fort Benning, Georgia the 1st SFAB is made up of the first graduates of MATA and are under the command of Colonel (now BG)[13] Scott Jackson and Command Sergeant Major Christopher Gunn. On February 8, 2018 the 1st SFAB held its official activation ceremony at the National Infantry Museum on Fort Benning, Georgia.[14] The Army plans to raise a total of six SFABs, five of which will be in the active duty Army, and one in the Army National Guard.[15] The Indiana Army National Guard is providing the headquarters for the newly designated 54th SFAB. 1st Battalion is being organized by the Georgia Army National Guard.[16] Two battalions are being organized by the Florida Army National Guard, the 3rd Squadron, 54th Cavalry, and the 2nd Infantry Battalion.[17][18]

On May 18, 2018, the Army announced that the Security Force Assistance Command (SFAC) will be established at Fort Bragg. This division-level Command,[19] led by a Brigadier General, will oversee the Army’s six Security Force Assistance Brigades, as well as the MATA[20] for SFAB training and oversight.[21] SFAC and 2nd SFAB were activated on 3 December 2018 at Fort Bragg;[19] BG Mark Landes and BG Donn Hill are the Commanding Generals of SFAC and 2nd SFAB, respectively.[19]

By 2020, the SFABs are to include missions to US Central Command, US Southern Command, US Indo-Pacific Command, and US Africa Command.[22] According to a US military journal, "such specialized security force assistance units is a stopgap measure that frees up more resources for conventional warfare, allowing the rest of the US military to focus on combined-arms training and equipping for conflict and competition with China and Russia."[23]

SFAB recruiting

The SFAB Recruiting and Retention Team[24] was formed to provide SFAB leader development briefs and recruit Army-wide Soldiers and leaders for SFAB opportunities. Eligible Soldiers volunteer for SFAB assignments by completing two SFAB Volunteer forms[25] DA Form 4187 (Personnel Request) and SF 600 (Medical Screening) and e-mailing both to the Human Resources Command (HRC) SFAB Team for screening. On May 15, 2018, Army officials released new guidance on the Army's Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) Program, which includes first-ever bonuses up to $52,000 for those who reenlist for critical Security Forces Assistance Brigade positions.[26]

The Security Force Assistance Brigades
Security Force Assistance Units
Unit Name Shoulder sleeve insignia Distinctive Unit insignia Beret flash Unit Location Status
Security Force Assistance Command
Fort Bragg, North Carolina Active[19]
1st Security Force Assistance Brigade
Fort Benning, Georgia Active
2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade
Fort Bragg, North Carolina Active[27][19]
3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade
Fort Hood, Texas Active
4th Security Force Assistance Brigade[28][29]
Fort Carson, Colorado Active[28][30]
5th Security Force Assistance Brigade
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington Active[31][32][21]
54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (National Guard)[16][33]
HHC: Indiana, 1st Battalion: Georgia, 2nd & 3rd Battalions: Florida, 4th Battalion: Texas, 5th Battalion: Ohio, and 6th Battalion: Illinois[33] Active[28][33]
Brown beret of the SFABs (1st SFAB flash and DUI depicted)

See also

References
  1. "Operational and Organizational Concept" (PDF). Fort Benning. April 4, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  2. Lopez, C. Todd (May 18, 2017). "Security force assistance brigades to free brigade combat teams from advise, assist mission". U.S. Army. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  3. Truckley, Joseph (November 2, 2017). "1st Security Force Assistance Brigade promotes first Soldiers under new promotion policy". U.S. Army. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  4. Albright, Mark (June 6, 2019). "So you want to be an SFAB Advisor? Here's how..." U.S. Army.
  5. Nunez, Arjenis (November 3, 2017). "1st SFAB Assesses Candidates". U.S. Army. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  6. Fleming, Kevin (December 21, 2017). "Equipping SFABs: A 'Rubik's Cube' of logistics". U.S. Army. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  7. Erwin, Sandra (October 8, 2018). "Army buying portable satcom gear that fits in soldiers' backpacks". SpaceNews.
  8. ASA(ALT) Weapon Systems Handbook 2018, T2C2
  9. Prater, Scott (July 23, 2019). "4th SFAB gearing up with high tech". Fort Carson Mountaineer.
    • For the Humvee-mounted retrofits:
      1. Replace the alternator.
      2. Install a hardened computer.
      3. Install 11 different types of radio systems, antennas and components.
  10. Matthew Fontaine (7 May 2020) 1st SFAB begins advising mission to Africa with vehicle maintenance training in Senegal
  11. Jahara Matisek, and William Reno (2019). "Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters". Joint Force Quarterly. 92: 65–73.
  12. "ATP 3-96.1: Security Force Assistance Brigade" (PDF). Headquarters, Department of the Army. May 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  13. Fontaine, Matthew (August 18, 2018). "1st SFAB Commander earns 1st Star and Promotion to Brigadier General". U.S. Army.
  14. "1st SFAB hosts activation ceremony; Heraldry announced". U.S. Army. February 8, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  15. "SFAB » Home". Tradoc News. October 23, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  16. Lowry, Jeff (March 30, 2018). "Indiana National Guard to stand up new assistance brigade". National Guard. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  17. Fleischmann, Carmen (May 7, 2018). "Florida officer first Guardsman to complete SFAB training". National Guard. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  18. "Florida Soldier becomes first National Guard member to graduate Combat Advisor Training Course". Capital Soup. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  19. "Security Force Assistance Command, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade activate at Fort Bragg". Security Force Assistance Command Public Affairs. December 3, 2018.
  20. Brooks, Drew (May 18, 2018). "Fort Bragg will be home to Security Force Assistance Command". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  21. "Army announces the stationing of three Security Force Assistance Brigades". U.S. Army. May 18, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  22. Sean Kimmons (7 May 2020) SFABs look to grow force, expand missions around the world
  23. Matisek, Jahara; Williamson, Joshua (June 2020). "Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance". Expeditions with MCU Press. doi:10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
  24. "SFAB Recruiting & Retention Facebook Page". Facebook. September 15, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  25. "SFAB Volunteer Forms". www.armyreenlistment.com. September 15, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  26. Kimmons, Sean (May 15, 2018). "Army announces new changes to retention bonuses, kickers". U.S. Army. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  27. "Army announces activation of second Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Bragg]". U.S. Army. December 8, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  28. Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (28 April 2020) Latest SFAB activates, prepares for Afghanistan mission
  29. U.S. Army Public Affairs (23 April 2020) Army announces upcoming 4th Security Forces Assistance Brigade, unit rotation
  30. "4th Security Force Assistance Brigade". Fort Caron. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  31. Final SFAB activates with upcoming missions in Asia, as Army plans a Pacific Pathways restart, ArmyTimes, by Kyle Rempfer, dated 30 May 2020, last accessed 31 May 2020
  32. "5th Security Force Assistance Brigade Official Facebook page". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  33. "Memorandum for NG J1 RRF (All-Entire RRF), ARNG 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) (SMOM #18-040)" (PDF). National Guard Bureau. April 30, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
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