User:Afghan mentor

Americas most popular SFAT team
By the 191st Infantry Brigade, First Army, Division West, PAO office. PAKTYA, Afghanistan – With boots down in the Paktya Province, Afghanistan, the 191st, Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West, has officially taken control of OCC-R East operations during a Transfer of Authority ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Lighting.

Colonel Shawn Reed, the commander of the 191st IN BDE, states “We are clearly operating within the crucial minutes that equate to long lasting success of a free and secure Afghan Nation. Our efforts here transcend typical and historical standards of advising and assisting of foreign sovereign nations…and as such, in our most critical time of transitioning full responsibility of security and stability operations to our Afghan partners… we remain Vigilant in efforts that see Victory through Education as an enduring legacy of our mission here in Afghanistan.”

A Transfer of Authority ceremony, commonly known as the TOA, occurs when an existing unit hands over its control and responsibilities of an area of operations to an incoming unit. The 1st Infantry Division OCC-R SFAT team relinquished its control and responsibility of the seven province OCC-R East region.

The Security Forces Assistance Teams (SFAT) serves as advisors and mentors seeking to increase the capacity of partnered Afghan units. Army doctrine defines security force assistance as the unified action to generate, employ, and sustain local, host-nation, or regional security forces in support of a legitimate authority (FM 3-07).

Security force assistance teams are not new for Army forces. In fact, General George Washington’s Inspector General of the Army acted as an advisor for Army forces. Baron Fredrick Wilhelm von Steuben instilled discipline and professionalism into an army that previously lacked formalized training. His 1779 Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, adapted from the Prussian army, formed the doctrinal backbone of the Continental Army throughout the Revolutionary War. Additionally, the lineage of the Army’s operations field manual, FM 3-0, can be traced to this document. As a benefactor of advisors such as von Steuben, the Army has since undertaken SFAT teams several times throughout its history (FM 3-07.1).

The men and women of the 191st INF BDE, First Army, Division West, on this historic day assume responsibility to advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces personnel. CSM Woods opines that “Our advisors have the potential to lock their place… and efforts…within our great history as a premier training and war fighting organization…and our mission here is reminiscent of legacies left by great leaders such as Baron Von Steuben, where our accomplishments become referenced throughout the ages as a crucial aspect of a successful Afghan future.”

The 191st Infantry Brigade of First Army Division West is America’s capacity building, partnering and training team that the US Army employs to advise and assist its own National Guard and Reserve forces, and is expertly equipped to mentor the Afghan National Security forces.

First Army has a storied past concerning combat operations. First Army, under General Pershing in WWI, was the first to break the German lines at Verdun. In WWII, First Army was the controlling headquarters for units first to assault the beaches at Normandy… first to break out of the beachhead… first to break the battle of the bulge, and first to cross the Rhine River and penetrate into the German Homeland. True to our history of first’s, 191st IN BDE is now the first to field a truly multi component Command that consists of Active duty, Guard and Reserve SFAT teams in support of developing a capable and stable security force in Afghanistan.

“Our goal here in the Operations Coordination’s Center-Regional (OCC-R) is to work directly with senior professional Afghan Soldiers from across all the military pillars to include but not limited to the Afghan National Army, and Police. We advise and assist with the coordination between Coalition Forces, Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and civilian agencies for an increased security and quality way of life. The desired instate of the OCC-R is for ANSAF to be self sustained and independent” said MSG Kevin Pearson.

Just as the 82d Airborne division is known as the (All Americans), because it was the first WWI unit made of Guard units to contain members from all states in the union. The 191st INF BDE SFAT team is known as “America’s most popular SFAT team” because it contains elements from all components of the US army, active, Guard, and Reserve.

Today’s ceremony is to transfer the authority of OCC-R East from the battle hardened First Infantry Division to the trained, ready and professional Soldiers of Task Force Vigilance. As our combat coin espouses…”Victory Through Knowledge”...America’s most popular SFAT remains committed to a successful and enduring free Afghanistan. Always Vigilant!! by the 191st Infantry Brigade, First Army, Division West, PAO office