Isn't the problem the long duration of an advisory tour? Why not keep it at the same length as a combat tour?

And why not make it mandatory for higher officer and NCO ranks? Kind of cross-cultural training. Foreign/allied troops learn the American way, U.S. officers/NCOs get exposure in potential ops areas.

And I think that an Advisory Corps is totally wrong. Teacher and trainer get a good part of their value and authority from hands-on experience. An AC would be the academic approach - might as well outsource to Blackwater then!

And troops should be "advised" by their respective weapons branch officers/NCOs. Tankers by tankers, artillery by artillery, SF by SF.

Same goes for aerial and naval forces.