Updated June 1, 2020
Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs)
What Is Security Force Assistance (SFA)?
personnel and equipment required to transform the SFAB
Security Force Assistance (SFA) is defined as “unified
into either a BCT. These newly manned and equipped
action to generate, employ, and sustain local, host nation or
BCTs would then be trained up to conduct their respective
regional security forces in support of a legitimate
combat missions.
authority.” By definition “security forces include not only
military forces, but also police, border forces, and other
SFAB Force Structure
paramilitary organizations, as well as other local and
The Army’s Ft. Benning, GA-based 1st SFAB was deployed
regional forces.” SFA involves organizing, training,
to Afghanistan in March 2018. The Ft. Bragg, NC-based 2nd
equipping, rebuilding, and advising foreign security forces
SFAB replaced the 1st SFAB in Afghanistan in the spring of
(FSF).
2019. The 3rd SFAB is based at Ft. Hood, TX. The 4th
SFAB was activated April 28, 2020, and stationed at Ft.
Background
Carson, CO. The 5th SFAB, which was activated May 28,
The Department of Defense notes “military operations in
2020, will be at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. Activated
Iraq and Afghanistan, and many future operations will
in March 2020, the Army National Guard’s 54th SFAB
center on developing capability and capacity of host nation
plans to recruit qualified Army National Guard soldiers to
(HN) or other FSFs.” SFA activities have and are occurring
create subordinate units in Indiana, Georgia, Florida, Texas,
in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. In the past,
Ohio, and Illinois.
Special Forces units handled the majority of SFA missions,
but the growing requirement for SFA over time has resulted
The Army has also established a command element—the
in conventional forces assuming a more active role in
Security Force Assistance Command (SFAC)—within U.S.
conducting these missions. Conventional forces SFA
Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) at Fort Bragg, NC, to
missions were normally assigned to a Brigade Combat
conduct training and readiness oversight of the SFABs.
Team (BCT), the Army’s principal warfighting
organization. Because of the nature of SFA missions, BCT
SFAB Organization
leadership—officers and senior and mid-grade non-
According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan
commissioned officers (NCOs)—were typically deployed
Reconstruction:
to conduct SFA missions, with most junior NCOs and
soldiers remaining at their home station. This situation,
SFABs consist of about 800 personnel organized in
while practical from a resource perspective, created a
36 multifunctional advisor teams each composed of
number of readiness concerns for the BCT soldiers
12 advisors and eight security personnel assigned to
remaining at home station. One such concern is with
support the development of a partner nation’s
leadership stripped out of the BCTs for the SFAB mission,
military According to the U.S. Army, each advisor
the remaining soldiers were limited to training at individual
team would be staffed with a commander, NCO in
and squad level only, resulting in a low level of unit
charge, two maneuver advisors, a medic, a joint
readiness.
force operator, a communications officer, a
The Army’s Plan to Establish SFABs
mechanic, an intelligence analyst, and specialists in
logistics, operations, and explosives—all tasked
SFABs are to be capable of conducting SFA at the tactical
with advising their Afghan counterparts while also
(brigade and below) level. In May 2018, the Army
providing sustainment for the SFAB. An SFAB can
announced it would establish six SFABs—five in the
also employ 18 functional advising teams
Active Component and one in the Army National Guard
(ARNG). SFABs were originally planned to consist of
specializing in logistics, engineering, or field
about 500 soldiers (BCTs consist of between 4,400 to 4,700
artillery. Each SFAB is led by a one-star general
soldiers depending on type: Armored BCT [ABCT],
responsible for coordinating all SFAB operations in
Infantry BCT [IBCT], or Stryker BCT [SBCT]), primarily in
a partner nation.
senior grades and encompassing a range of Military
Operational Specialties (MOSs). The Army also planned to
Recent and Current SFAB Activities
establish a Military Advisor Training Academy at Ft.
The Army notes that since 2018, SFABs have deployed to
Benning, GA, to conduct a six-week course on relevant
assist foreign partners in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. In
topics and skills.
February 2020, elements of the 1st SFAB were designated
for deployment to Africa. In June 2020, the 4th SFAB is
The Army also plans for SFABs to be expanded, if the need
slated to conduct a training rotation at the Joint Readiness
arises, into fully operational BCTs capable of conducting
Training Center (JRTC) in Ft. Polk, LA. The 4th SFAB is
major combat operations. In this case, SFAB personnel
then scheduled to replace the 3rd SFAB in Afghanistan in
would serve as cadres who would accept the expansion of
late summer 2020. Reportedly, a company-sized element
from the 1st SFAB will be deployed to Colombia in early
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs)
June 2020 for a four-month period to train Colombian
to high attrition rates — up to 70 percent for the 1st
forces in counter drug trafficking operations.
SFAB.
SFAB Regional Alignment
It is not known if subsequent SFAB activations and
Reported Active Component SFAB regional alignments are
deployments have had similar personnel-related
planned as follows:
experiences.
SFAB Training
1st SFAB to U.S. Southern Command
(USSOUTHCOM),
In addition to training at the Military Advisor Training
Academy, many SFAB members are to receive language
2nd SFAB to U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM),
training—as much as 16 weeks in some cases. Soldiers are
to also receive training on foreign weapons, advanced
3rd SFAB to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM),
medical training, driver training, and survival, evasion,
resistance, and escape (SERE) techniques.
4th SFAB to U.S. European Command (USEUCOM),
Equipping SFABs
and
Soldiers in SFABs are to be issued standard personal
5th SFAB to U.S. Indo Pacific Command
equipment (weapons, protective masks, etc.) and a variety
(USINDOPACOM).
of tactical wheeled vehicles armed with crew-served
weapons (.50 caliber and 7.62 mm machine guns) for force
Army leadership also notes that these regionally aligned
protection. In addition, SFABs are to have command,
SFABs can be deployed outside their assigned regions if
control, communications, computer, and intelligence,
required.
surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities.
SFAB Personnel Considerations
Potential Issues for Congress
Initially, the Army planned to man SFABs with volunteers
Are SFABs, with their limited presence, the right
only, with the Army paying a $5,000 incentive for enlisted
solution for SFA in highly contested regions?
SFAB volunteers. Leaders at brigade and battalion levels
must have already successfully served in a commensurate
What is the organization and mission of the Security
position in a BCT before being selected to serve in a SFAB.
Force Assistance Command (SFAC)?
The Army also wants officers and NCOs who have
previously served as company commanders and first
What are the equipment, vehicular, and military
sergeants for SFAB duty.
construction (MILCON) requirements associated with
activating six SFABs and the SFAC?
Early Recruiting and Retention Problems
The 1st SFAB’s 2018 deployment to Afghanistan reportedly
Are there enough qualified volunteers for the SFABs or
revealed a number of personnel-related shortfalls.
are soldiers being assigned to these units in a similar
According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan
manner as soldiers are routinely assigned to
Reconstruction (SIGAR):
conventional Army units?
Staffing of the SFABs is based on recruiting active-
What steps has the Army taken to address SFAB
duty Army and National Guard volunteers, but
personnel-related issues?
while advisory experience is preferred, about 20
percent of the 1st SFAB had never previously
Based on previous SFAB deployments and associated
deployed. Even though the Army offered a number
lessons learned, what types of modifications have been
of incentives for volunteers, the 1st SFAB was
made to SFAB organization, equipping, and training?
filling billets right up to the day that they departed.
In the event SFABs are to be regenerated into BCTs,
In addition:
how long would it take to man, equip, and train them so
they are capable of performing combat mission?
The 1st SFAB didn't just suffer from recruitment
challenges, but retention issues as well. The reason
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
is simple ... advisor roles continue to be seen as not
career enhancing in the military, which contributes
IF10675
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs)
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