"Everyone here believes in our mission at hand and wants to be successful at it," said Ihrke. I have really benefitted from the mentorship and the dedication of the SFAB's Soldiers and leaders."
#13f army mos professional#
"The wealth of knowledge is unmatched and that creates just an overall more professional unit. "There's less learning your military occupational specialty (MOS) or going over redundant material and more performing your MOS," said Edwards. Many have served in the same position in their former BCTs on the same echelon. As part of selection for the SFAB, volunteers are chosen based on qualifications and experience. "We're just achieving it with fewer personnel."Įdwards said he is overwhelmed with the plethora of knowledge from fire support specialists in the SFAB's ranks. Edwards, 1st Battalion, 1st SFAB fire support officer and Madison, Alabama native. "We're still achieving the same goal as a 13F would in your BCTs," said Capt. Once manning requirements are met, the intent is to have one fire support Soldier per CAT. Combat advisor teams work in small elements to create a more intimate training environment and cohesive bond.
The utilization of FISTers as advisors for battalion level foreign forces enables them to use their indirect fire assets and become a force multiplier for ground forces. "We are able to communicate with close air support, attack aviation, artillery or mortars while simultaneously de-conflict situations if necessary to meet the commander's intent."
Ihrke, 1st Battalion, 1st SFAB fire support noncommissioned officer. "We're able to enable combat and battalion advisor teams with fire support to allow them to focus on their respective mission set," said Sgt. For fire supporters, this will allow them to work alongside their infantry counterparts on a deeper level - reminiscent of the times before the division artillery units were reactivated. While there is only one current SFAB, the planned activation of five additional SFABs shows that these units are permanent, additive force structure.Īlthough the SFAB remains similar in structure to conventional brigade combat teams, their elements are significantly smaller. The Department of the Army developed the SFAB to act in the capacity of combat advisors - not nation builders. Jackson explained the SFAB's particular mission set is to train, advise, assist, accompany and enable conventional foreign forces - not Special Forces - so that they have the ability to take ownership of their own security, establish stability and encourage autonomy. This is an organization the Department of the Army has tapped to perform a difficult mission set." "That's a key piece that the SFAB employs that the conventional Army typically doesn't. Jackson, the 1st SFAB's fire support officer. "It leaves the classroom and heads straight to the battlefield," said Lt. Whether fixed wing or surface-to-surface indirect weapon systems, they play an integral role in ensuring fires are on target and on time.įor 13Fs in the Army's 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, headquartered at Fort Benning, Georgia, their role as fires advisors for foreign partners is twofold - train them on fires standard operating procedures while simultaneously embedding with them in an austere combat environment. Fire support specialists, also known as 13Fs, or FISTers as they often refer to themselves, provide a critical capability on the battlefield with their ability to synchronize and integrate fires. Edwards, fire support officer for 1st Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, ob.įORT BENNING, Ga. Ihrke, fire support noncommissioned officer for 1st Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade and Capt. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Edwards, fire support officer for 1st Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigad.
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