FORT JOHNSON, LA. – The 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) continues to provide expert Advisors across various roles to NATO Allies and Partners throughout Europe. Given Europe’s status as a top priority for the Department of Defense, maintaining readiness and operational expertise is essential for all Advisors.
Force Packages (FP) undergo rigorous validation exercises (VALEX) before being deemed qualified for deployment across Europe. Recently, FP 25-1E from 1st Battalion completed its VALEX at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.
Advisors specialize in assessing, supporting, liaising, and advising (ASLA) and must integrate seamlessly with Allies and Partners to offer their specialized expertise. During the exercise, Advisors were placed in a fictional country where they were tasked with building rapport and relationships with the partner nation and integrating at various levels, including division staff. Role players, consisting of retired military members and civilians, simulated the partner nation’s soldiers.
The exercise also incorporated the use of a digital battlefield, which had real-world scenario impacts on how Advisors planned and operated with their partner forces. The integration of digital and real-world elements added levels of complexity through “war gaming simulations,” requiring Advisors to make real decisions with tangible impacts on the ground.
Throughout the exercise, observer-controller-trainers (OC/T) provided external grading and feedback. These OC/Ts were Advisors from previously employed force packages, bringing valuable experience to the training environment. Their insights are crucial for maintaining and enhancing relationships and operations with allied and partner nations.
All training rotations require substantial external support to ensure success. The “white cell” is a critical support system for commanders and soldiers during crucial times. These elements handle the division’s routine administrative and personnel responsibilities, allowing brigade staff to focus on training and testing their own training tasks.
Lt. Col. Joseph Mickley, 2nd Battalion’s commander and the lead OC/T for the exercise, described the unique scenario: “All their systems are being stressed, from battalion level to individual Advisor teams, through real-world and simulated injects, which provide the ability to look at themselves and training objectives and really gives them a hard look at an Advisor role in a conflict scenario.”
The 4th SFAB remains committed to strengthening ties with NATO Allies and Partners, demonstrating their dedication to shared security goals through continuous training and employment readiness.
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