text: Support to Host Nation Security Forces
  8-88. Advisors who understand the HN military culture understand that local politics have national
  effects. Effective advisors recognize and use cultural factors that support HN commitment and teamwork.
  A good advisor uses the culture’s positive aspects to get the best performance from each security force
  member and leader.
  Guidelines
  8-89. Important guidelines for advisors include—
  • Remain patient. Be subtle. In guiding Host Nation counterparts, explain the benefits of an
  action and convince them to accept the idea as their own. Respect the rank and positions of
  Host Nation counterparts.
  • Exercise diplomacy in correcting Host Nation security forces. Praise each success and work
  to instill pride in the unit.
  • Work to continually train and improve the unit, even in the combat zone. Help the commander
  develop unit SOPs.
  • Know light infantry tactics and unit security procedures.
  • Use “confidence” missions to validate training.
  • Understand that an advisor is not the unit commander but an enabler. The Host Nation
  commander makes decisions and commands the unit. Advisors help with this task.
  • Train Host Nation units to standard and fight alongside them. Consider Host Nation limitations
  and adjust.
  • Flexibility is key. It is impossible to plan completely for everything in this type of operation.
  • Constantly look forward to the next issue and be ready to develop solutions to problems that
  cannot be answered with a doctrinal solution.
  • Remember that most actions have long-term strategic implications.
  • Try to learn enough of the language for simple conversation, at a minimum, greetings.
  • Keep Host Nation counterparts informed; try not to hide agendas.
  • Remain prepared to act as a liaison to multinational assets, especially air support and logistics.
  Maintain liaison with civil affairs and humanitarian teams in the area of operations.
  • Remain ready to advise on the maintenance of equipment and supplies.
  • Stay integrated with the unit. Eat their food. Do not become isolated from them.
  • Remain aware of the operations in the immediate area to prevent fratricide.
  • Insist on Host Nation adherence to the recognized human rights standards concerning treatment
  of civilians, detainees, and captured insurgents. Report any violation to the chain of command.
  • Remain objective in reports on Host Nation unit and leader proficiency. Report gross
  corruption or incompetence.
  • Maintain a proper military bearing and professional manner.
  Advisor Teams
  8-90. Advisor teams link Host Nation units and US partner units to fill the gaps of the HN's supply
  system. They have the ability to bring attention to shortfalls in equipment both to their higher US chain
  of command and, through their chain of command, the Host Nation higher headquarters. The advisor
  should ensure that the Host Nation logistical system is being used properly first. In addition, the advisor
  team may assist by hand walking his HN counterpart through the HN system.
  8-91. Advisor teams often have authority to provide tactical equipment such as radios through their
  appropriated funds. The advisor team must use this money since it is one of the few forms of leverage they
  posses.
  8-92. It is important to note that advisors should not use bribery or coercion, since results achieved from
  these actions are only temporary. As soon as the “payment” is made, or the “force” is removed, the Host
  Nation counterpart has no reason to comply. In practice, these techniques are not efficient and will not
  achieve the long-term goal of developing proficiency, competence, and initiative in the counterpart.