1st Security Force Assistance Brigade

1st Security Force Assistance Brigade
Founded 2017 (2017)[1]
Country  United States of America
Branch  United States Army
Type Military education and training
Role Train and advise foreign militaries
Garrison/HQ Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S.
Color of berets   Brown
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flash

The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) is a security force assistance brigade of the United States Army. It is based in Fort Benning, Georgia and is under the command of BG[2] 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.[3]

Organization

SFABs are brigades whose mission is to train, advise, and assist (TAA) the armed forces of other states. Operationally, a 800-soldier SFAB would free-up a 4500-soldier brigade combat team from a TAA mission.

On 23 June 2016 General Mark A. Milley revealed plans for train/advise/assist brigades, consisting of seasoned officers and NCOs with a full chain of command, but no junior soldiers.[4] The SFABs were to consist of 800 senior officers and NCOs, which could act as a cadre to reform a full brigade combat team in a matter of months.[5] In May 2017, the initial SFAB staffing of 529 soldiers was underway, including 360 officers. The officers will have had previous command experience.[6]:21:20 Commanders and leaders will have previously led BCTs at the same echelon.[7] The remaining personnel, all senior NCOs, are being recruited from across the Army.[8][9][10] Promotable E-4s who volunteer for the SFAB are automatically promoted to Sergeant upon completion of the Military Advisor Training Academy.[11] In the event of a national emergency SFABs could be augmented with new soldiers entering basic training and advanced individual training.[6]

On 16 October 2017, BG Brian Mennes of Force Management in the Army's G3/5/7 announced accelerated deployment of the first two SFABs.[12] This was approved in early July 2017, by the Secretary of Defense and the Chief of Staff of the Army. These two SFABs would be trained in languages, how to work with interpreters, and equipped with the latest equipment including secure, but unclassified, communications and weapons to support coalition partners,[13][14][12] as well as unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).[15] An SFAB could provide up to 58 teams (possibly with additional Soldiers for force protection).[12]

A team of twelve soldiers would include a medic, personnel for intelligence support, and air support.[16]

History

1st SFAB activation ceremony

By October 2017, the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade was to be established at Fort Benning.[17][18][6]:minute 50:00 On January 11, 2018, it was announced that the 1st SFAB would deploy to Afghanistan in Spring 2018.[19] On 8 February 2018, 1st SFAB held an activation ceremony at Fort Benning, revealing its colors and heraldry for the first time, and then cased its colors for the deployment to Afghanistan.[20] It is made up of the first graduates of the Military Advisor Training Academy (MATA), also located at Fort Benning.

1st SFAB deployed to Afghanistan in February 2018.[21]

On 3 September 2018 3/1 SFAB Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Bolyard (3rd Squadron, 1st SFAB) was fatally shot by an Afghan policeman while visiting Afghan army's 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps.[22] On 21 September 2018, 3/1 SFAB co-located its living compound ("Crusher and Stallion Area", named after unit mascots) with Afghan army's 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps, next to 4/203's tactical operations center (TOC). Afghan Camp Maiwand was formerly Forward Operating Base Shank. (3/1 elements rotate to Camp Dahlke every few days for access to showers and DFAC.) 3/1, their security personnel (from 3rd Infantry Division security forces), and a linguist are then all that is needed for direct face-to-face contact in the Afghan National Army TOC.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Security force assistance brigades to free brigade combat teams from advise, assist mission, army.mil, by C. Todd Lopez, dated 18 May 2017, last accessed 14 July 2018
  2. ↑ Maj. Matthew Fontaine (August 18, 2018) 1st SFAB Commander earns 1st Star and Promotion to Brigadier General
  3. ↑ "1st SFAB hosts activation ceremony; Heraldry announced", Army.mil, dated 2018-02-08, last accessed 2018-03-02
  4. ↑ Priorities for Our Nation's Army with General Mark A. Milley (23 June 2016):Minute 18:40/1:00:45
  5. ↑ "CSA explains how skeletal advisory brigades could regenerate force". Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Priorities for Our Nation's Army with General Mark A. Milley (23 June 2016)
  7. ↑ (16 October 2017) First security force assistance brigade training for deployment
  8. ↑ Lolita C. Baldor (4 May 2017) Associated Press Uncle Sam: We want you... to train others! $5K bonus offered accessdate=2017-05-05
  9. ↑ Security force assistance brigades to free Brigade combat teams from advise, assist mission
  10. ↑ Army Moves Closer to Establishing First Security Force Assistance Brigade
  11. ↑ 1st SFAB promotes first Soldiers to sergeant under new policy
  12. 1 2 3 AUSA (16 October 2017) AUSA Video clip, Warriors corner #9: All things Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), part of the article, "First security force assistance brigade training for deployment"
  13. ↑ Capt. John May (November 27, 2017) Military Advisor Training Academy prepares 1st SFAB as combat advisors
  14. ↑ (December 21, 2017) Equipping SFABs: A 'Rubik's Cube' of logistics over 5,000 pieces of equipment
  15. ↑ (6 December 2017) Eyes in the Sky with 1st SFAB
  16. ↑ Jaffe and Ryan (21 January 2018), Washington Post Up to 1,000 more U.S. troops could be headed to Afghanistan this spring
  17. ↑ 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade: Who we are and why You should volunteer
  18. ↑ "Army creates Security Force Assistance Brigade and Military Advisor Training Academy at Fort Benning". U.S. Army. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Department of the Army announces upcoming deployment of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade". U.S. Army Public Affairs. January 11, 2018.
  20. ↑ (9 February 2018) 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade holds activation ceremony
  21. ↑ "First troops among new front-line adviser brigade arrive in Afghanistan". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  22. 1 2 Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (October 4, 2018) By living on Afghan base, Army advisors aim to better enable partners
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