Large Scale Security Force Assistance: A Measured Approach

Abstract

The role of advising foreign security forces, now known doctrinally as Security Force Assistance (SFA), is increasingly executed by U.S. Army general purpose forces. The scale of assistance required in the Afghanistan and Iraq theaters of operation caused this shift for SFA conduct from Special Operations Forces (SOF). The methodology for the selection and fielding of conventional forces to execute this nonstandard requirement has been challenging. The Army has vacillated from fielding ad hoc teams to the creation of specialized training intended to prepare existing maneuver units for its conduct. Furthermore, there appears to be no approved plan for incorporation of a permanent capability within the Army for the execution of future SFA missions of a similar scale should the need arise. This manuscript analyzes various options for preparing for future large scale SFA by conventional forces and proposes a practical solution for adoption by the U.S. Army.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 17, 2011
Accession Number
ADA542859

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey L. Meeker

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Defense
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Training
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Systems Analysis and Design