3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade

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3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade
US Army Security Force Assistance Brigade SSI.png
The SFAB's shoulder sleeve insignia
FoundedJanuary 2019–present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army
TypeMilitary education and training
RoleTrain and advise foreign militaries
Garrison/HQFort Hood, Texas, U.S.
Color of berets  Brown
Commanders
Current
commander		COL Michael J. Trotter
Command Sergeant MajorCSM James L. Light
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade DUI.png
Beret flash
US Army 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade Flash.svg

The 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade (3rd SFAB) is a Security force assistance brigade of the United States Army. It is based in Fort Hood, Texas.[1] 3rd SFAB will relieve 2nd SFAB in Afghanistan for the Winter 2019 rotation.[2] On 10 Jun 2021 3rd SFAB cased its colors in preparation for deploying 20 teams across 10 nations of the CENTCOM area of responsibility.[3][4]

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 (TAA) the armed forces of other states. Operationally, an 800-soldier SFAB would free-up a 4,500-soldier BCT from a TAA mission.

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.[5] 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.[6] In May 2017, the initial SFAB staffing of 529 soldiers was underway, including 360 officers. The officers will have had previous command experience.[5]: 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.[5]

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, possibly by Spring 2018 to Afghanistan and Iraq, if required.[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]

References[]

  1. ^ Myers, Meghann (2018-05-21). "These three posts will be home to the Army's next security force assistance brigades". Army Times. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  2. ^ U.S. Army Public Affairs (August 16, 2019) Army announces upcoming 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade unit rotation
  3. ^ Brandy Cruz, Fort Hood Public Affairs (10 Jun 2021) 3rd SFAB battalion cases colors for unique assignment
  4. ^ Colin Clark (28 Sep 2021) Lessons Learned From Afghanistan: Gen. Mark Milley
  5. ^ a b c Priorities for Our Nation's Army with General Mark A. Milley (23 June 2016): Minute 18:40/1:00:45 
  6. ^ "CSA explains how skeletal advisory brigades could regenerate force". Retrieved 19 October 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. ^ a b c 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
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