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.

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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.