Advisor Brigades

**patmc** · 03-04-2009

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?

**Old Eagle** · 03-04-2009

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.

**Ranger94** · 03-05-2009

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?

**Cavguy** · 03-05-2009

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?

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

**82redleg** · 03-06-2009

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?

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.

**82redleg** · 03-09-2009

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.

**patmc** · 03-27-2009

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

**Rough Terrain** · 05-14-2009

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.

**jkm_101_fso** · 05-14-2009

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.

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.

**IntelTrooper** · 05-14-2009

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

"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.

**120mm** · 05-15-2009

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!

**Cavguy** · 05-15-2009

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.

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.

**tankersteve** · 05-15-2009

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

**jkm_101_fso** · 05-15-2009

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.

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.

**Courtney Massengale** · 05-23-2009

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

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.

...

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.

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