Future of Security Force Assistance

The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review directs the Military Services to develop, within their general-purpose forces (GPF), the capability to conduct security force assistance, more specifically to train, advise, and assist foreign security forces. The Army wants to meet this requirement with the Modular Brigade Combat Team (BCT), while critics advocate a different approach, such as a permanent "advisor corps." This thesis seeks to answer the following primary research question: Is the Modular Brigade Combat Team the optimal solution for meeting future requirements to train, advise, assist and partner with foreign security forces? To answer this question, several secondary research questions were explored. These questions included, determining the capabilities and capacity required, the roles of both general-purpose forces (GPF) and special operations forces (SOF), and what kind of advisors and trainers are required. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the advisor corps concept and the BCT were examined. Research and analysis determined that future capability and capacity requirements, as well as the delineation of mission sets between GPF and SOF remain difficult to quantify. Analysis also determined that training personnel to be advisors is a more practical method than selecting advisors. Evaluation of the advisor corps concept revealed that it is costly and does not provide improved capability. The answer to the primary research question is that the Modular BCT is the optimal solution, but only if the Army can change cultural norms that have the potential to impede effectiveness.