New in 2018: 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade heads to Afghanistan

Less than a year since the Army unveiled the new concept of Security Force Assistance Brigades to train foreign conventional infantry, artillery and other troops, the first such unit is preparing for an early 2018 deployment.

The first members of the Fort Benning, Georgia-based 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade graduated from the Army’s new Military Training Adviser Academy in October and will be assigned to U.S. Army Central.

SFABs will continue to stand up in 2018, under a plan to align one with each regional combatant command.

Each SFAB is meant to approximate a brigade combat team’s headquarters, with hand-picked officers and senior noncommissioned officers who will train and advise foreign partner forces in conventional warfare.

RELATED

Army chief: SFABs will do a completely different job than Special Forces

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley speaks out amid an uproar from active and former Special Forces soldiers over uniform items and his comments on the history of SF training missions.

By Meghann Myers

The 1st SFAB is scheduled for a Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in January, their spokesman told Army Times.

“The 1st SFAB is expected to be ready, if called upon, to deploy in early 2018,” said Maj. Matthew Fontaine.

More In Your Army

Army officer who reported prisoner abuses dies at age 42

Former Maj. Ian Fishback said Army superiors ignored his complaints.

A tactical guide for avoiding Thanksgiving family conflicts

Build alliances, and, for the love of god, don't turn on CNN.

Army cadets raid Annapolis, steal the wrong goat from Navy

This year the cadets fumbled their mission. Hard.

Why the Marine Corps wants to tank National Guard recruiting efforts

“If we do our job right, they’ll never go to the Army or the National Guard to begin with."

70 West Point graduates call on Alaska lawmaker to resign

Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. David Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right-wing extremist group.

In Other News

Air Force veteran’s obit urges ‘irresponsibly large wager on Nebraska beating Iowa’ in lieu of flowers

The family of Air Force veteran Milton Andrew Munson, 73, who died Nov. 16, contains a very unusual request.

Vaccines work, Pentagon says, as surge in troop COVID deaths comes to a halt

After pandemic deaths doubled over late summer and fall, the military hasn't had any in two weeks.

DC rooming house operator stole $400k in benefits from elderly, mentally ill and disabled veterans: indictment

Rosemary Ogbenna, 45, was charged this month by the District Court for the District of Columbia for allegedly carrying out a plot to steal more than $400,000 in benefits from elderly, mentally ill and disabled veterans she housed through her room and board business.

The household goods contract is protested — again — with military families caught in the middle

It's not clear whether the protest will alter the timeline for service members to begin using the new moving process, which is now expected in late 2022.

Will Russia invade Ukraine?

Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv issued an alert to U.S. citizens, warning them of “concerning reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine’s borders and in occupied Crimea.”

Load More