18-005-AR Add Security Force Assistance Sector 2 Modifier

[Joe Bayles]

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: The U.S. Army cannot construct a unit symbol that clearly identifies a combat unit with Security Force Assistance capability. The U.S. Army has Security Force Assistance combat units designed to operate in and under a wide variety of threat environments, geographic locations, legal agreements, and command structures, but cannot identify this unique capability in military symbol language.

This identified military symbol gap is currently not permitting the U.S. Army to properly differentiate units with Security Force Assistance capability from conventional units. Not being able to differentiate these unique capabilities cause confusion when creating doctrine organization structures, course of action sketches, overlays, or a common operation picture. Security Force Assistance is one of the five security cooperation activities described in FM 3-22, to include security assistance, foreign internal defense, internal defense and development, and security sector reform.

PROPOSED SOLUTION: Establish a sector 2 modifier using the current approved Security Force Assistance (SFA) acronym to facilitate creating a unit with Security Force Assistance capability.

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS: “SFA” may be added to the “G” or “H” field as an amplifier on the outside, top right edge of the unit graphic. However, a staff note doesn’t properly convey the core nature and capabilities of an SFA unit.

SUBMITTED GRAPHICS FILES: Modifier and an example of an SFA Infantry Brigade with the proposed modifier.