United States Security Force Assistance: The Army Reserve Piece

Abstract

Abstract : This paper proposes a paradigm shift for the U.S. Army Reserves. It recommends the Army Reserve assume a major role in establishing a permanent capability for Security Force Assistance (SFA). The proposed Reserve-centric SFA option will provide the United States with a reliable force to build partner nations' security forces capacities. The study frames the SFA issue first by providing a brief historical perspective of the U.S. Army's SFA experiences since the Philippine Insurrection, along with a segment detailing recent Army Reserve experiences; then, it touches upon the current environment and challenges, and covers the future environment and items to consider when developing SFA solutions. Subsequently, the study elaborates upon the proposed SFA concept and organization and highlights the Army Reserve's Force Generation model - which is essential to establishing reasonable expectations and how one would obtain Reserve SFA forces.