Security Force Assistance (SFA)

 The July-September 2015 edition of Special Warfare (Volume 28, Issue 3) has several articles related to Security Force Assistance that could be of interest to those Resolute Support advisors currently engaged in the Train, Advise, and Assist mission in Afghanistan. Major Aaron Southard writes "SFA Metrics: Blood and Treasure" where he informs us about the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School's efforts to develop ". . .a concept and methodology to collect, collage, analyze and quantify SFA operations in order to better educate and inform senior military and civilian leadership as to the value and necessity for continued resources and support." (see pages 26-28). Captain Rachel Rice has provided us with "Security Force Assistance Initiatives" - an article (see pages 29-31) that recognizes that ". . . lessons learned and after action review comments have shown that there is institutional shortfalls surrounding Regionally Aligned Forces pre-deployment training/preparation, interagency knowledge and country-specific requirements". We learn through her article about the Security Force Assistance Deployment Handbook developed by the Special Operations Center of Excellence. (TC 3-05.3, April 2015). The handbook is available at this link but requires a CAC login.
https://armypubs.us.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_c/pdf/tc3_05x3.pdf

The SFA articles are available at this link for Special Warfare - Aug-Sep 2015
www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/26508

Article - Promise and Pitfalls of Partners

A recent paper provides us with an optimistic (yet realistic) look at the use of partners in our goal of deterring adversaries and maintaining stability. He references the recently distributed Army Operating Concept provided by the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ACIC). The AOC lists security cooperation as one of the eleven key missions for the U.S. Army. The author praises the AOC's "measured approach towards security assistance". Three reasons are provided for "partnering" 1) US troops in harm's way is fraught with political difficulties, 2) decision-makers are seduced by low cost and risk, and 3) for every security assistance failure there is a quiet success. Read more in "Army #Operating Concept: The Promise and Pitfalls of Partners", by Crispin J. Burke, on The Bridge, published October 22, 2014.

Videos About Security Force Assistance

The COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) has produced four videos that help explain the Security Force Assistance (SFA) mission in Afghanistan. The videos are entitled "Mission", "Mindset", "Approach", and "ANSF". The videos provide information on the the new "functionally-based" Security Force Assistance mission that the soon to deploy Security Force Assistance Advisory Teams (SFAATs) will be executing in Afghanistan. The videos can be viewed on the ISAF SFA page on the Ronna Apan website.

Afghan Security Forces in RC South Improving Says U.S. General

Army MG Robert Abrams says the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Regional Command South are steadily improving. He says the ISAF forces conducting Security Force Assistance have been helping the ANSF in the critical areas of counter IED, intelligence, air operations, fires, police work, medical support, and logistical sustainment. Read more in "U.S. Commander Praises Afghan Forces' Progress", American Forces Press Service, March 13, 2013.