FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Under Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy visited Fort Bragg July 26 to meet with Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade and discuss the importance of their mission, what it means to be a part of the SFAB and the future of the U.S. Army.
McCarthy said that the performance of the SFABs has exceeded expectations and that this due largely to the skills, expertise and dedication of the Soldiers who volunteer to be a part of the unit’s specialized advise and assist mission.
“These are all volunteers who want to be doing this mission,” said McCarthy. “They want to learn the language. They want to learn the culture.”
McCarthy was accompanied on the SFAB portion of his visit by Rep. Richard Hudson, who represents North Carolina’s 8th congressional district, which includes Fort Bragg. Hudson said that one of the things that struck him the most about meeting the SFAB Soldiers was the level of experience from previous deployments and the capability that they bring with them.
“These aren’t Soldiers that are coming straight off the bus,” said Hudson. “They are experienced. They are well trained. They are some of the best of the best.”
The Under Secretary said that what came through to him in his individual conversations with the SFAB Soldiers was their love of what they are doing and their respect for each other.
“Their sense of morale is high,” he said. “You come into the unit and you can feel it.”
Sgt. Jacob Rosales, a petroleum supply specialist, came to the SFAB after seeing a recruiting poster at his previous unit and going to a briefing to find out what it was about. He said that he has no regrets about volunteering for the unit.
“Everyone here is motivated and focused,” said Rosales, who currently services with 6th Battalion, 2nd SFAB. “We all want to do it. That makes a difference.”
The 2nd SFAB stood up on Fort Bragg in January 2018 and the new unit is focusing on building capacity as they prepare for their first deployment to potentially replace the 1st SFAB in Afghanistan in early 2019. McCarthy said that there is continuous feedback from the 1st SFAB as the Army continues to build the 2nd SFAB and the 3rd SFAB at Fort Hood, Texas.
“The capability of the SFAB is really about the people,” said McCarthy. “And we continue to recruit the best and brightest men and women into the organization.”