SFA

A Governance Advising Framework for the Security Force Assistance Brigade

SWJED — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 19:30:35 +0000

A Governance Advising Framework for the Security Force Assistance Brigade SWJED Sat, 11/18/2017 - 2:30pm

Responding to the crisis of ineffective governance will require governance advising during all phases of military operations. We describe here the potential role of the SFAB in such a response.

Security Force Assistance Brigades: It’s About Time

SWJED — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 19:00:56 +0000

Security Force Assistance Brigades: It’s About Time SWJED Sat, 09/16/2017 - 3:00pm

A reduced U.S. military footprint around the world coupled with an increase in state and non-state threats has forced us to reconsider our strategy and posture.

Security Force Assistance Brigades: The US Army Embraces Antifragility

SWJED — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:39:00 +0000

Security Force Assistance Brigades: The US Army Embraces Antifragility SWJED Fri, 08/11/2017 - 9:39am

Should the Army prepare to fight other modern militaries like those of Russia and China, or orient on stabilizing war-torn states like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan?

The New Security Force Assistance Units May Be The Vanguard We Were Looking For…

SWJED — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 08:26:20 +0000

The New Security Force Assistance Units May Be The Vanguard We Were Looking For… SWJED Tue, 01/17/2017 - 3:26am

The Army will remain the only organization in our nation’s national security arsenal that enables the competent projection of national power to directly influence human activity.

So, You’re Going to be an Advisor?

Peter J. Munson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:25:00 +0000

So, You’re Going to be an Advisor? Peter J. Munson Wed, 04/24/2013 - 3:25am

Ten easy to follow recommendations to help you become an effective military advisor.

Aligning FM 3-24 Counterinsurgency with Reality

Peter J. Munson — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Aligning FM 3-24 Counterinsurgency with Reality Peter J. Munson Tue, 04/09/2013 - 3:30am

The “U.S. in the Lead” COIN approach usually fails where security force assistance could succeed.

US Security Force Assistance in Africa: Human Rights, Ethics Training a Must

Peter J. Munson — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:30:00 +0000

US Security Force Assistance in Africa: Human Rights, Ethics Training a Must

The Malian army that took over the government in the March 2012 coup was led by a US trained officer, Captain Sanogo. The Malian military continues to exert great influence in the political process in Mali and as they try to expel insurgents that have taken over the northern part of Mali. The Malian army, however, is also accused of human rights abuses that took place during the purge of Sanogo opponents, as well as with enemy combatants. Besides training the leader of the coup, the US military also trained the Malian military for years through the African Contingency Operations Training Assistance program (ACOTA), its predecessor the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI), and other programs.

On 24 January 2013, the US AFRICOM Commander, General Ham, acknowledged the role the US military played in training Malian forces and found the outcome worrying. He said that the focus of US efforts was tactical training but “We didn’t spend, probably, the requisite time focusing on values, ethics and military ethos.”

The US has trained many African militaries on the continent; notably with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) following the UN brokered Liberian peace deal that sent Charles Taylor to exile in Nigeria in 2003. After dismissing the former Liberian military, the US vetted and recruited a new force and drew up a comprehensive training plan in 2005 that included intensive human rights, rule of law, ethics and values training. However, in 2007, after the first class of new Liberian soldiers graduated, US trainers cut out the bulk of these training blocks due to time and cost constraints. US trainers promised to incorporate the training at a later date but were unable to do so.

The only test for the AFL so far was the Fall 2012 deployment under “Operation Restore Hope” to patrol the porous borders with Cote d’Ivoire. Desertion remains a concern as over ten percent of the AFL has quit the force. Frequent stories of AFL soldiers committing crimes are featured in the local Monrovian news, causing concern about the ethics and values of the new Liberian troops.

Another example of a US trained soldier gone bad is President Jammeh in the Gambia, who took power in a 1994 military coup. This has also taken place in Haiti, Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, and Bolivia. African leaders are rightfully afraid that US training can lead to regime change.

The values and ethics training incorporated in ACOTA training has not prevented abuses by African militaries either. Of the 25 current ACOTA partners, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Ugandan, and Nigerian troops have been accused of atrocities.

Upcoming budget cuts and sequestration will put greater restraints on US military spending and our capabilities in training African forces. If the primary intent of US training is to increase the tactical capabilities in US partners on the continent it is likely that human rights, values, and ethics training will also fall by the wayside in the rapidly approaching lean years. US leaders need to ensure that these essential training modules are reinforced in all US funded training.

Peter J. Munson Wed, 02/06/2013 - 3:30am

Which Tribe Should We Engage? A Tribal Engagement Assessment Methodology

Peter J. Munson — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Which Tribe Should We Engage? A Tribal Engagement Assessment Methodology Peter J. Munson Fri, 01/25/2013 - 3:30am

Operators must understand local culture and must harness the power of local institutions to fight an irregular enemy. A proposed method to do so.

Conducting Security Force Assistance in a Rural District: Understanding the Operational Environment

Peter J. Munson — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:30:00 +0000

Conducting Security Force Assistance in a Rural District: Understanding the Operational Environment Peter J. Munson Thu, 12/20/2012 - 5:30am

The key to successful advisor preparation lies in understanding the operational environment.

Enabling the Afghans to Take The Lead: Transition at the Tactical Level

Peter J. Munson — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Enabling the Afghans to Take The Lead: Transition at the Tactical Level Peter J. Munson Mon, 09/24/2012 - 5:30am

“Afghan Led” is a critical aspect of our counterinsurgency operations that we must grasp to enable ultimate mission success.