Advisor Brigades

Saw this on the SWJ rollup today.

"Key Iraq Training Units Still Being Developed." by Spencer Ackerman. The Washington Independent. http://washingtonindependent.com/320...eing-developed

After the Combat Troop pullout, the new Advisory and Assistance Brigades (AAB) will replace BCTs in Iraq, and make up the bulk of the 50,000 +/- force in Iraq. With the new timeline on the horizon, there will be urgency to figure out the final mission, makeup, and structure of the AAB's. According to the article, there is still debate on what size, support, personnel, and most importantly, mission they will have. There is also question if they will join Iraqi units on combat missions, as some units and TT's do now. LTC Nagl's Advisor Corps is mentioned, and article speculates that he is giving advice when asked. SWJ also gets a shout-out.

This is our future in Iraq, and this article didn't seem to get much attention, so here it is. At a sensing session last year, I asked GEN Casey about the future of the MiTT mission (I expected to get one out of CCC, and that looks likely), and he answered that Brigades would take on the mission, and training would move to Polk. This leads me to wonder if TTs, as they are currently manned and structured, will continue after this summer, when Polk assumes the TT training mission? Will AAB's rotate through Polk for an advisor JRTC? Will individuals continue filling teams?

The "TT training mission" currently conducted by 1/1 ID at Riley will transition to Ft Polk this summer.

The goal is to phase out externally generated TTs and replace them with BCTs that then generate TTs out of hide. Army is now trying to determine what augmentations a standard BCT will need to meet its requirements.

The Combined Arms Center is now trying to determine future training programs and C2 of the training element at Polk.

As BCTs accept the TT mission, some of the training currently conducted by 1/1 will be done as home station training (force protection, etc.)

Future is still in flux. Go for the MiTT assignment if you can get it.

Does anyone know if current and former Riley trained MiTT and ETT advisors will recieve an ASI? Will they get priority assignment to the Advisor Brigades?

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Originally Posted by Ranger94

Does anyone know if current and former Riley trained MiTT and ETT advisors will recieve an ASI? Will they get priority assignment to the Advisor Brigades?

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Not that I have seen yet. Right now just the KD credit.

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Originally Posted by Ranger94

Does anyone know if current and former Riley trained MiTT and ETT advisors will recieve an ASI? Will they get priority assignment to the Advisor Brigades?

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I thought there was one for Riley, and one for the Phoenix Academy at Taji- I'll have to do some research to find the MILPER message, though. I remember it came out around the same time as the KD credit, maybe between FEB and JUN of 08.

MILPER Message 08-112 (NCOs) and 08-113 (officers) establishes the PDI of T1, with PDSI T1B for Riley training and T1C for Phoenix Academy at Taji.

Washington Post, "4,000 More US Troops to Be Sent to Afghanistan." by Karen DeYoung and Greg Jaffe. 26 MAR 09

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews


President Obama is pushing to send a brigade from the 82nd as an Advisor Brigade,

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The extra 4,000 troops, expected to deploy in June, are to fill that gap. In a sign of the new importance the administration is placing on the mission, a brigade of the U.S. Army's vaunted 82nd Airborne Division is being broken up into 10 to 14 member advisory teams, the Pentagon official said. Until now, the military has relied heavily on inexperienced National Guardsmen to fill out the teams.

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Does anyone know what the makeup of these 10-14 man teams will be? I'm guessing it will be more pairings at the company level, with a couple BN or BDE teams following the MiTT / ETT model, but that's just a guess.

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The assignment also represents a major cultural shift for the service. Most rising Amy officers have gone out of their way to avoid advisory duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, preferring assignments with more traditional combat brigades and battalions. Advisory team jobs have been widely seen as career killers.

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If an entire BDE is being tasked, I don't see everyone volunteering, and if officers, nco's, and Soldiers will be on these teams, so I don't see the relevance to just officers. I also knew senior NCO's that wanted nothing to do with MiTTs (and a few who were tasked, and are doing their duty honorably). If a company commander or 1SG lose their companies to advisor duty, I don't think they'll be relieved and excited, but I could be wrong.

I think putting people who know and work together is a better option than individual augmentees, but again, unless these teams have selection criteria, the wrong people could end up in the wrong places. Also, how many of the BDE will be advising, and how many will be in support on FOBs?

This is going to be the test run for the Iraq Advisor Brigades, but I hope they're not just throwing a BDE into this with little warning and train-up, which is basically the augmentee method.

Personal note: I "volunteered" for an Iraq Border Transition Team out of my CCC, expecting to leave late this year, but a medical issue has popped up that may pull me out of the fight for a while (or long while). Hoping it will clear up, but the doctor actually knows what he is talking about, whereas I just want to get out of TRADOC and back in the fight.

The company formerly known as Blackwater....

Overseas Contingency Operations formerly known as the GWOT....

Advisor Brigades formerly known as Brigade Combat Teams....

Man made disasters formerly known as acts of terrorism....

Anyone else see the pattern?

LINK

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A spokesman for Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates, Lt. Col. Patrick S. Ryder, told IPS Tuesday that "several advisory and assistance brigades" would be part of a U.S. command in Iraq that will be "re-designated" as a "transition force headquarters" after August 2010.

But the "advisory and assistance brigades" to remain in Iraq after that date will in fact be the same as BCTs, except for the addition of a few dozen officers who would carry out the advice and assistance missions, according to military officials involved in the planning process.

Gates has hinted that the withdrawal of combat brigades will be accomplished through an administrative sleight of hand rather than by actually withdrawing all the combat brigade teams. Appearing on Meet the Press Mar. 1, Gates said the "transition force" would have "a very different kind of mission", and that the units remaining in Iraq "will be characterised differently".

"They will be called advisory and assistance brigades," said Gates. "They won't be called combat brigades."

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I've heard that the Army's preference for the Advisory mission is to take a Bn or BCT, give it some added Specialists and a mission specific trainup and send it forth for a year to do great things. That, IMO, is a very good fix with both training (for the Bn/BCT and the assisted nation or force) and minimal disruption of the total force values. A key factor will be the quality of the trainup (and the first one is bound to be poor in comparison to later editions), :cool:

However, I've also heard the new crowd at DoD doesn't like that idea and is inclined to opt for dedicated Advisors. That's really dumb IMO. It will not be popular (which is machts nichts) and it will be disruptive and will result in persons not current going to train others -- so we'll probably do that... :rolleyes:

So maybe this thread reports an effort to give it a try and see how well it works. On that basis, picking the 82d makes sense. ??? We'll see, I guess...

I was driving back to Carson from Bragg this morning and Gareth Porter was on the radio discussing this issue. The man is a hack who gives other hacks a bad name. He was on some "peace" show. I initially thought that I was listening to NPR but apparently it was a far left leaning station. He talked about how the the military was going rename some of the BCTs to Advisor BDEs and add a few dedicated advisers and then leave them in Iraq. He framed it conspiratorily as if the Obama administration was breaking it's pledge to have all combat troops out of Iraq in 18 months (the exact phrase he used was "political sleight of hand"). He then bemoaned the fact that no one else in the MSM had picked up on this. The host of the show then played a quote from the SECDEF where he announces this exact thing at a press conference. The SECDEF, of course, makes the point that the BDE will have a completely different mission, a fact lost on Porter. Porter tried cover by mumbling some nonsense about how the SECDEF was "giving a hint" to what was going to happen. I would have called it an explicit statement but Porter prefers hint, Tomato Tomahto I guess.

How does this guy have a press pass? As far as I can tell he is a tin foil hat and a copy of A Catcher in the Rye away from his own blog on the Daily Kos.

SFC W

Just got orders to 1/1 ID at Riley; report in the fall. 1/1 apparently has been identified as an Advise and Assist Brigade after they hand off the TT mission to Polk on 1 SEP. A few questions for anyone that may know:

Is the MTOE different for an AAB? If so, how?

Will AABs be "dual mission", with the AAB portion as an "additional mission" or will the AAB mission be the primary (only) effort of the unit?

When an AAB deploys, would they take their equipment (Tanks, Brads, Paladins, etc)?

Not sure if anyone has heard, but any information would be appreciated.

-Jake

Jake, while they are being called AABs in Iraq, on this end (and this week)they are the "modular brigades augmented for SFA". There is an augmentation package associated with it (ping me on AKO and I'll send you latest we have). Keep in mind that conditions will drive a lot of the other decisions you inquired about, and that like anything else on paper wire diagrams only tell part of the story.

Best, Rob

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Originally Posted by Rob Thornton

Jake, while they are being called AABs in Iraq, on this end (and this week)they are the "modular brigades augmented for SFA". There is an augmentation package associated with it (ping me on AKO and I'll send you latest we have). Keep in mind that conditions will drive a lot of the other decisions you inquired about, and that like anything else on paper wire diagrams only tell part of the story.

Best, Rob

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Rob,
WILCO, appreciate it.

Along with the new Advisory and Assistance Brigade concept, the Army is now selecting Brigade and higher MiTT commanders on the Centralized Selection List (CSL). In other words, officers who might otherwise command MTOE battalions will now serve as senior combat advisors to Iraqi and Afghan units. This obviously underscores the importance that the Army leadership is placing on the transition team mission set, and has serious implications for the Army officer career model.

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Originally Posted by Rough Terrain

Along with the new Advisory and Assistance Brigade concept, the Army is now selecting Brigade and higher MiTT commanders on the Centralized Selection List (CSL). In other words, officers who might otherwise command MTOE battalions will now serve as senior combat advisors to Iraqi and Afghan units. This obviously underscores the importance that the Army leadership is placing on the transition team mission set, and has serious implications for the Army officer career model.

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I bet there are going to be some very angry LTCs when that list comes out....

but, that is what is important right now and we need the best and brightest for these positions.

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Until now, the military has relied heavily on inexperienced National Guardsmen to fill out the teams.

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"Inexperienced"? What gives these people the right to rate the experience level of a combat-MOS soldier, active, Guard, or otherwise? Some of the best mentors I knew were pulled out of their peaceful lives in the last month of IRR, and they single-handedly built an entire Kandak of ANA.

The 33rd out of Chicago is doing a tremendous job with their "inexperienced National Guardsmen" as ETTs in Afghanistan. I have been impressed with the ETT I've been associated with in every way.

In fact, I would deem National Guardsmen as better candidates for ETTs primarily because they are relatively uninfected by "Army-Think". It is important not to confuse supporting the Army system with getting results.

There are very few "inexperienced" National Guardsmen or Reservists anymore.

Edited to add: Plus points for knowing what a kandak or toloy is!

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Originally Posted by jkm_101_fso

I bet there are going to be some very angry LTCs when that list comes out....

but, that is what is important right now and we need the best and brightest for these positions.

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There is fine print associated here.

All TT commanders will come from the CSL list. This includes the ALTERNATE list.

From what I hear, the alternate list is going to get very big, i.e. almost fully qualified LTC.

On the upside, they are telling these LTC's that they will be able to recompete for a BN command if they take a TT command.

AABs will not just go to Polk. We have some slated for Irwin too, if that makes any sense, with the TT training happening at Polk.

I have had some friends in recent days with MiTT orders cancelled and changed to PCS orders to a division/BCT for MiTT duty. I guess this AAB thing is going to kick off big.

Based off some recent counseling, guys coming out of ILE may end up in a BCT in a MiTT job, and after the rotation, get selected for a 'second' KD job in the BN/BCT HQs.

Tankersteve

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Originally Posted by Cavguy

There is fine print associated here.

All TT commanders will come from the CSL list. This includes the ALTERNATE list.

From what I hear, the alternate list is going to get very big, i.e. almost fully qualified LTC.

On the upside, they are telling these LTC's that they will be able to recompete for a BN command if they take a TT command.

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Ah, now it makes more sense. I know how very upset some of the "fast trackers" would have been to have a TT command instead of a BN Command. It was probably a relief for them to find out they were still eligible to compete for BN Command afterward. With the alternate list as well, I can imagine there's a lot to choose from.

The "TT is a BS assignment that will not help my career" stigma is alive and well among our field grades. In fact, I'd say most I've spoken to still haven't drank the "TT needs the best and brightest" kool-aid.

All.

A great rundown on the Advise and Assist Brigade concept/manning was posted by COL Jeff Lieb, the MFE Branch assignments officer (requires AKO log-on): https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/protec...e/MFE_Main.htm

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First, I'd like to clear up the terminology. Deploying Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) will now be augmented with a Stability/Support-Transition Team (S-TT). When a Brigade receives its S-TT augmentation, it becomes a Brigade Combat Team - Augmented (BCT-A). The exact composition of an S-TT will vary depending on the BCT’s mission in theater. S-TTs will be composed of between 16 and 48 Field Grade officers.

Second, I would like to address what the VCSA's message means to us. The bottom line is that we are beginning to do away with Transition Teams in their current form. Most field grade officers who were slated for transition teams will (instead of going to Ft. Polk or Ft. Riley as planned for a 3 month train-up) proceed to a selected BCT, train with that BCT for approximately 3 months, deploy with them for a year, redeploy, and then PCS to their HAAP location. The composition of their TT will be provided by organic assets from within the BCT.

TT requirements for MAJs, LTCs and COLs have increased while CPT requirements have decreased. Although there will be a remaining requirement to train a select few Transition Teams at Ft. Polk and Ft. Riley, augmented maneuver Brigade Combat Teams (BCT-As) will assume the vast majority of the TT training, command and control, and partnership responsibilities in Iraq. It is my personal belief that we will soon see these same changes incorporated into operations in Afghanistan.

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The FY 10 Battalion Command slate will have over 30 LTCs selected to lead these teams within the BCT-A structure and receive credit for battalion command. For the remainder of the nearly 400 requirements, we will continue to use dwell, amount of time deployed, and required skills/experience to help determine which officers will be selected to serve this important mission. Officers interested in volunteering should contact their assignment officer to get more details.

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The link has some more info about what units and timeframe this will happen over.

While ruminating about in the above subject matter area, I came upon a thesis by Colonel Peter A. Newell, "Preparing the strategic sergeant for war in a flat world: Challenges in the application of ethics and the Rules of Engagement (ROE) in joint / multinational / multicultural operations" (20 May 2008), which is online at www.dtic.mil/. Googling also works.

In the usual run of things, I end up reading materials by active and retired JAG officers, and by I Law professors (some of them are actually OK). It was refreshing to see this subject approached by an infantry / armor officer who has no apparent legal background in his bio.

The thesis has five parts:

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Chapter I – Introduction

Chapter II – Doctrinal Review (a non-technical focus on: The Theory of Armed Conflict; US Policy and Law; Rules of Engagement; Commander’s Intent)

Chapter III – Situational Analysis (focus on his Analytical Model & Case Study – The Fall of a Warrior King) - discussed here at SWC in "Sassaman Interview"

Chapter IV – Training (focus on Institutional Training; Combat Training Center Program)

Chapter V – Summary and Conclusions (focus on Understanding the Law of War; Collective Training)

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This is simply a good, practical article, which should be more relevant to combat officers than to armchair lawyers (though it certainly held my interest).

COL Newell also comes recommended by 120mm.

Its relevance to this thread is here:

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Deploying brigade to test 'advise and assist' concept
May 01
By Gary Sheftick
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 1, 2009)

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