Advisors from the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade don their brown berets at a ceremony standing up the unit
Security Force Assistance Brigades
SFABs are brigades whose mission is to train, advise, and assist other states' armed forces. Operationally, an 800-soldier SFAB would free-up a 4,500-soldier Brigade Combat Team from a training and advisory mission.[citation needed]
On 23 June 2016 General Mark Milley revealed plans for train/advise/assist Brigades, consisting of seasoned officers and NCOs with a full chain of command, but no junior Soldiers.[2]: Minute 18:40/1:00:45 The SFABs were to consist of 800 senior officers and NCOs, which, the Army says, could act as a cadre to reform a full brigade combat team in a matter of months.[3] In May 2017, the initial SFAB staffing of 529 soldiers was underway, including 360 officers. The officers will have had previous command experience.[2]: 21:20 Commanders and leaders will have previously led BCTs at the same echelon.[4] The remaining personnel, all senior NCOs, are being recruited from across the Army.[5][6][7] Promotable E-4s who volunteer for the SFAB are automatically promoted to Sergeant upon completion of the Military Advisor Training Academy.[8] In the event of a national emergency SFABs could be augmented with new soldiers entering basic training and advanced individual training.[2]
On 16 October 2017, Brigadier General Brian Mennes of Force Management in the Army's G3/5/7 announced accelerated deployment of the first two SFABs, possibly by Spring 2018 to Afghanistan and Iraq, if required.[9] 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,[10][9] as well as unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).[11] An SFAB could provide up to 58 teams (possibly with additional personnel for force protection).[9]
A team of twelve soldiers would include a medic, personnel for intelligence support, and air support.[12]
