SFA Course Fort Polk

The Security Force Assistance Course conducted at Fort Polk, Louisiana provides instruction for military service members who will deploy overseas as advisors. The course is usually 7 to 10 days long. It is custom tailored for the region of the world that the advisors will deploy to.

An instructor provides cultural training to members of the 2nd SFAB
attending the Security Force Assistance Course at Fort Polk.
(photo by Chuck Cannon, Ft. Polk, Dec 6, 2018).

The Security Force Assistance Course is offered by 3rd Battalion, 353rd Regiment, Operations Group, JRTC at Fort Polk. The SFA course trains units and leaders on the skills needed to effectively advise counterparts in support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The SFA course offers small unit instruction and practical exercise (PE) on a variety of topics to include:

• Using an interpreter

• Cross-cultural communication

• Negotiating techniques

• Leader engagements

• Building rapport

• Understanding human behavior

• Protecting the team

In addition, students asl receive training in functionally-based SFA. There are student engagements with role players recruited from Afghanistan and Iraq. There is a small amount of language training as well. The course size is up to 140 students per class.

References:

3rd Bn, 353rd Regiment, Fort Polk
www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/Transition_team/SFA.html