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2nd SFAB Advises Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Dumlao (third from left), a training advisor assigned to the Maneuver Company Advisor Team, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, looks on as members of the Tunisian armed forces familiarize themselves with the M3 Carl Gustaf during a class as part of African Lion 23, May 23, 2023, Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia. U.S. Africa Command is committed to sustained engagement with our African partners, and African Lion 23 is designed to prevent conflict while simultaneously ensuring that the U.S. military is prepared to respond to any crisis. Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 23, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. HollyAnn Nicom)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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2nd SFAB Advises Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rudy Danner (center), an operations advisor assigned to the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, watches as members of the Tunisian armed forces participate in an M110 rifle familiarization class as part of African Lion 23, May 23, 2023, Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia. In this partnership effort, the United States has provided increased training and resources toward improving the country’s security and better protection of its borders. Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 23, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. HollyAnn Nicom)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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2nd SFAB Advises Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Edward Webb (right), an operations advisor assigned to the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, explains how to clear an M60 machine gun to members of the Tunisian armed forces as part of African Lion 23, May 23, 2023 at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia. Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 23, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. HollyAnn Nicom)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
Members of the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade possess unique training and advising experience that enhances the readiness and interoperability of U.S. and partner nation forces within the African theater.
One of the many goals of the 2nd SFAB is to advise allied and partner nations, which requires technical expertise, unique cultural training and the flexibility needed to modify training facilitations to meet the needs of participants. “The SFAB are specialized units with the core mission to conduct training, advising, assisting, enabling and accompanying operations with allied and partner nations,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Adam Flores, an advisor attached to the 2nd SFAB. “They are Soldiers that are proficient in their position; like-minded individuals who take passion in their military job and what they do.”
Members of the SFAB are a completely voluntary force who specialize in training for host-nation conventional forces in infantry, armor, cavalry, engineer, artillery, and combined-arms warfare.
To prepare for this mission, SFAB personnel go through a combat advisor training course at the Military Advisor Training Academy at Fort Benning, where they improve their skills in many aspects of their military profession, including how to assess different exercises and maneuver tactics, and to work as a team. Maturity and tactical proficiency are necessary for the ability to conduct realistic and dynamic training and assessments.
At Tunisia’s request, the United States has provided resources such as the SFAB personnel to provide increased training, improving the country’s security and protection of its borders. “[Members of the Tunisian armed forces] have a set focus and we give them the training they want,” said Flores.
“We have a mutual respect and understanding that everybody’s culture is a little different, and it’s interesting to see [the Tunisian] way of doing things is effective. Their NCO’s and officers have a good relationship with each other and listen to each other,” he said.
A safe, stable and secure Africa is in the best interest of the United States. Exercise African Lion 23 is a critical opportunity for members of the joint team to build and test their strategic readiness to deploy, fight and win in a complex, multi-domain environment. The SFAB enhances this partnership through assessing, building rapport and partnerships with allied nations, advising them on their specific tactics, and effectively helping them with techniques they have already established and building upon those techniques, said Flores.
2023 marks the fifth year of the African Lion exercise in Tunisia, and is part of an ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and Tunisia. African Lion 23 is a critical opportunity for members of the joint team to build and test their strategic readiness to deploy, fight and win in a complex, multi-domain environment.
About African Lion
African Lion 23 is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, joint, annual exercise. More than 8,000 participants from 18 nations and NATO will focus on enhancing readiness between U.S. and partner nation forces. This joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal of strengthening interoperability among participants.
Click here for additional African Lion content on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).
About SETAF-AF
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
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