In Fiscal Year 2013, the Army plans to roll out its concept of regionally aligned forces, as a new model for building partnerships, the Chief of Staff said.
“In 2013, we will align a brigade with U.S. Africa Command,” Gen. Raymond Odierno said recently in a blog post on the Army’s official blog–Army Live.
“Missions will be conducted primarily by small units from within the brigade, who will deploy to select locations to support small-scale security cooperation activities and annual military exercises. Brigade Soldiers who are not deployed will continue to train both for U.S. Africa Command requirements and for emergent tasks.”
Before the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, Odierno observed, cultural awareness was required only by specific Army units such as Special Forces or Civil Affairs.
However, one of the “most compelling” lessons of the past decade is that “nothing is as important to your long-term success as understanding the prevailing culture and values,” he said.
“In the simplest terms, regionally aligned forces are Army units and leaders–Brigades, Divisions, Corps, and support forces–who focus on a specific region within their normal training program by receiving cultural training and language familiarization,” Odierno said.
In response to the new strategic guidance and declining defense budgets, the concept is expected to improve Army support to the combatant commanders.
The concept also is to capitalizes on the contributions of the total force–Active, Guard, and Reserves–to improve partner capacity, sustain strong relationships, and to assist Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational partners in building a stronger global security environment, he said. The outcomes are to reinforce that “this combination of skills and knowledge will continue to make U.S. Army units the security partners of choice.”
Regionally aligned forces expand current security cooperation efforts and force management. It will also relieve some of the burden of Special Forces, as soldiers will become familiar with the region in which they may be tasked to operate. At the same time, soldiers will continue to maintain their core combat skills and capabilities while training and mentoring partner nation security forces.