{{Short description|Division-level command of the U.S. Army}} {{distinguish|United States Army Security Assistance Command}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name =Security Force Assistance Command | native_name = | image = US Army Security Force Assistance Brigade SSI.png | caption = Shoulder sleeve insignia | dates = November 2018 – January 2026<ref name="Ceremony">[https://www.army.mil/article/214605/security_force_assistance_command_2nd_security_force_assistance_brigade_activate_at_fort_bragg Security Force Assistance Command, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade activate at Fort Bragg], Army.mil, by Security Force Assistance Command Public Affairs, dated 3 December 2018, last accessed 5 January 2019</ref><ref name="SFAC Deactivation">[https://www.dvidshub.net/news/555915/security-force-assistance-command-headquarters-inactivates-fort-bragg "Security Force Assistance Command Headquarters Inactivates at Fort Bragg"], DVIDS, by MAJ Ryan Miller, dated 8 January 2026, last accessed 9 January 2026</ref> | disbanded = |country= {{Nowrap|{{Flagu|United States|name=United States of America|size=23px}}}} | countries = | allegiance = |branch = {{Army|United States|size=23px}} |type = Division-level command |role = Train and advise foreign militaries<br>Security force assistance | size = | command_structure = 15px US Army Forces Command | garrison = Fort Bragg, North Carolina | garrison_label = | nickname = | patron = | motto = | colors = {{legend2|SaddleBrown|Brown|border=1px #AAAAAA}} | colors_label =Color of berets | anniversaries = | equipment = | equipment_label = | battles = | decorations = | battle_honours = | battle_honours_label = | website = [https://www.facebook.com/ArmySFAC/ Official Facebook page] | commander1 = BG Kevin J. Lambert<ref>[https://www.dvidshub.net/news/473045/security-force-assistance-command-welcomes-new-commander-amid-ongoing-global-security-force-assistance-efforts Security Force Assistance Command welcomes new commander amid ongoing global security force assistance efforts]</ref> | commander1_label = Commanding General | commander2 = BG Mark H. Landes<ref>Now [https://www.afcea.org/content/landes-assigned-cg-first-army-division (18 Aug 2020) CG First Army Div East Fort Knox ]</ref> | commander2_label = Initial commander | identification_symbol = 80px|center | identification_symbol_label = Distinctive unit insignia | identification_symbol_2 = 125px|center | identification_symbol_2_label = Beret flash }} The '''Security Force Assistance Command''' (SFAC) was a division-level command element for the United States Army's Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB). These units' core mission is security force assistance to conduct training, advising, assisting, enabling and accompanying operations with allied and partner nations.<ref name="Ceremony"/><ref name="SFAC Deactivation"/>
==History== SFAB has its roots in Security Force Assistance training and doctrine. The original Military Assistance Training Advisor (MATA) course was established in 1962 as part of the U.S. Army Special Warfare School. It prepared conventional U.S. Army officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) for assignments as advisors to Vietnamese Army units. Instructors were Special Forces NCOs who were trained in conducting advisor missions. One notable feature of the school was the “MATA Mile” – a running course through the woods alongside Gruber Road at Fort Bragg. Students were provided with ST 31-179, ''MATA Handbook for Vietnam'' (January 1966).{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}} The SFABs carry on the SFA mission of training foreign conventional forces today.
==Overview== {{Listen | image = 50px | help = no | filename = US Army Security Force Assistance Brigade-Overview.ogv | title = "Soldiers:" A Security Force Assistance Brigade overview video | pos = left }} The SFAC was a U.S. Army command which grouped and coordinated the SFABs. The mission of the SFAB was to carry out train, advise, and assist (TAA) missions overseas with foreign nation military partners. SFABs are the United States Army's latest, and most potent solution to providing dedicated and trained personnel to relieve the brigade combat teams from performing combat advisory missions. Prior to the formation of SFABs, the combat advisory role was filled by NCOs and officers detailed from the brigade combat teams to train host nation military forces; leaving critical leadership billets unfilled. The introduction of the SFAB concept is intended to relieve the brigade combat teams of the combat advisory mission and enable them to focus on their primary combat mission. <ref name="www.army.mil4 2017">{{cite web | title=Security force assistance brigades to free brigade combat teams from advise, assist mission | website=www.army.mil | date=2017-05-18 | url=https://www.army.mil/article/188004/security_force_assistance_brigades_to_free_brigade_combat_teams_from_advise_assist_mission | access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref> Operating in units with roughly 800 personnel, SFABs are designed to be versatile and deployable worldwide and are made up exclusively of non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers however E-4s with promotable status are accepted and receive promotion to sergeant (E-5) upon graduation of MATA.<ref name="www.army.mil3 2017">{{cite web | title=1st Security Force Assistance Brigade promotes first Soldiers under new promotion policy | website=www.army.mil | date=2017-11-02 | url=https://www.army.mil/article/196383/1st_security_force_assistance_brigade_promotes_first_soldiers_under_new_promotion_policy | access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref>
SFABs are conventional units composed of volunteers recruited from units across the Regular Army. Volunteers undergo a week-long assessment and selection program at Fort Benning, GA which evaluates a candidate's physical fitness, decision-making, problem solving, and communications skills as well as their ethics and morals. Candidates that complete the assessment and selection program are assigned to an active SFAB, where they will be scheduled to attend the MATA and other follow on courses specific to their MOS.Trainees may receive additional language training, culture training, foreign weapons training and medical training, among other topics. <ref name="www.army.mil 20171">{{cite web | title=1st SFAB Assesses Candidates | website=www.army.mil | date=2017-10-17 | url=https://www.army.mil/article/196416/1st_sfab_assesses_candidates | access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref><ref name="www.army.mil2 2017">{{cite web | title=Equipping SFABs: A 'Rubik's Cube' of logistics | website=www.army.mil | date=2017-12-21 | url=https://www.army.mil/article/198514/equipping_sfabs_a_rubiks_cube_of_logistics | access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref> The SFABs are equipped with secure, but unclassified communications gear, utilizing T2C2 systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/army-buying-portable-satcom-gear-that-fits-in-soldiers-backpacks/|title=Army buying portable satcom gear that fits in soldiers' backpacks|date=8 October 2018|website=SpaceNews.com}}</ref><ref> ASA(ALT) Weapon Systems Handbook 2018, T2C2</ref>
===SFAB organizational structure=== <gallery widths="325px" heights="200px"> File:US Army Infantry SFAB structure.png|Infantry security force assistance brigade structure<ref name="ATP 3-96.1">[https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN8448_ATP%203-96x1%20FINAL%20Web.pdf ATP 3-96.1 Security Force Assistance Brigade], Department of the Army, dated May 2018, last accessed 10 November 2018</ref> File:US Army Armored SFAB structure.png|Armored security force assistance brigade structure<ref name="ATP 3-96.1"/> File:US Army SFAB advising team structure.png|Security force assistance brigade advising team structure<ref name="ATP 3-96.1"/> </gallery>
{| class="wikitable" |+Former Brigades of the Security Force Assistance Command ! Unit Name ! Shoulder sleeve insignia ! Distinctive Unit insignia ! Beret flash ! Unit Location |- | 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (reflagged as Army Security Cooperation Group–South)<ref name="Redesignated">[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1S9pDwXCDD/ "Today, the Army redesignated 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade to the Army Security Cooperation Group-South..."], Army Security Cooperation Group-South official Facebook post, dated 27 January 2026, last accessed 27 January 2026</ref> | rowspan="6" |175px|center | 75px|center | 75px | Fort Benning, Georgia |- | 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (deactivated November 2025)<ref>[https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2025-11-28/army-sfab-cuts-19911575.html "Army shuts down foreign training brigade mission focused on Middle East and Africa"], Stars and Stripes, by John Vandiver, dated 28 November 2025, last accessed 10 January 2026</ref> | 75px|center | 75px | Fort Bragg, North Carolina |- |3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade |75px|center |75px |Fort Cavazos, Texas |- | 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade |75px|center |75px | Fort Carson, Colorado |- |5th Security Force Assistance Brigade |75px|center |75px |Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington |- | 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (National Guard)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/1480551/indiana-national-guard-to-stand-up-new-assistance-brigade/|title=Indiana National Guard to stand up new assistance brigade|work=National Guard|access-date=2018-06-10|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="54th SFAB">[http://smtc.dodlive.mil/files/2018/07/SMOM-18-040-AC-ARNG-54th-Security-Force-Assistance-Brigade-SFAB.pdf Memorandum for NG J1 RRF (All-Entire RRF), ARNG 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) (SMOM #18-040)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006234758/http://smtc.dodlive.mil/files/2018/07/SMOM-18-040-AC-ARNG-54th-Security-Force-Assistance-Brigade-SFAB.pdf |date=2018-10-06 }}, National Guard Bureau, dated 30 April 2018, last accessed 6 October 2018</ref> |75px|center |75px |HHC: Indiana, 1st Battalion: Georgia, 2nd & 3rd Battalions: Florida, 4th Battalion: Texas, 5th Battalion: Ohio, and 6th Battalion: Illinois<ref name="54th SFAB"/> |}
==References== {{reflist}} * [https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10675 Congressional Research Service, January 2026]
Category:Military units and formations established in 2018 Category:Commands of the United States Army Category:Military advisory groups