The U.S. Army is shifting its advisory mission by transferring responsibilities to the newly established Western Hemisphere Command, marking a significant reorganization of its forces. This change involves retaining two Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) as part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and focus on large-scale conflicts with near-peer competitors.
In a statement to Military Times, Army spokesperson Maj. Montrell Russell confirmed that the 1st SFAB, aligned with U.S. Southern Command, will remain stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. Meanwhile, the 5th SFAB, which serves U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, will stay at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. This decision reflects the Army’s shift away from missions that characterized the post-9/11 era.
The Western Hemisphere Command, founded at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, late last year, combines the responsibilities of three former major commands: U.S. Army South, U.S. Army North, and the former Armed Forces Command. This reorganization is part of the Army Transformation Initiative, which aims to create a more efficient structure by reducing overhead and consolidating command elements.
Russell noted that the decision to inactivate the Security Force Assistance Command last week, as well as to reduce the number of SFABs, aligns with efforts to optimize the Army’s force structure. The initiative is designed to return experienced advisors to units that generate combat power while ensuring critical advisory capabilities remain intact to support the Joint Force and allied partners.
Originally, the SFABs were created to relieve conventional brigades from frequent advisory missions overseas. Between 2017 and 2020, six advisory brigades were established, with the 2nd SFAB, previously aligned with U.S. Africa Command, officially inactivated in November 2025. Russell’s statement did not provide details regarding other brigades or future plans for the Army’s advisory missions.
This transition signifies a pivotal moment for the Army as it navigates a changing global landscape, focusing its resources and strategy on more immediate, large-scale threats. The implications of this restructuring will be closely observed by military analysts and allied nations alike, as the U.S. military continues to adapt to emerging challenges.
