Army Advisers in Specialized Unit Set to Deploy to Afghanistan by Meghann Myers - Army Times
The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade will make its maiden deployment to Afghanistan in the spring, according to a Thursday release from the Army.
The Fort Benning, Georgia-based brigade, which is aligned with U.S. Central Command, will be the first to test out a new unit structure of combat-experienced officers and noncommissioned officers who will train allied local forces.
About 800 soldiers are expected to deploy,
“Our team is honored to make history as the Army’s first purpose-built SFAB to deploy in support of our national security objectives,” 1st SFAB commander Col. Scott Jackson said in the release. “As combat advisers, we stand ready to train, advise, assist, accompany and enable our Afghan National Security Forces partners to secure peace in Afghanistan.”
The brigade, which arrived for its pre-deployment training at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, this month, will be training Afghan National Security Forces, the release said.
Officials have said the SFABs take the burden off brigade combat teams that have been sending headquarters elements to Afghanistan since combat deployments ceased in 2014…