text: Chapter 8
  Advise and Assist Foreign Security Forces
  8-274. The BCT, generally with additional augmentation teams, advises and assists FSF to improve their
  capability and capacity. Advising establishes a personal and a professional relationship where trust and
  confidence define how well the advisor will be able to influence theFSF. Assisting is providing the required
  supporting or sustaining capabilities so FSF can meet objectives and the end state. The level of advice and
  assistance is based on conditions and continues until FSF can establish required systems or until conditions
  no longer require it. Advising and assisting teams from within the BCT do not permit the FSF to fail critically
  at a point that would undermine the overall effort.
  Security Force Assistance —Advise and Assist Activities
  8-275. The following advise and assist activities, used for discussion purposes, present advise and assist
  actions conducted by the BCT. Key BCT advisors include the—
  BCT Commander
  8-276. Before the mission, the commander advises and assists the FSF commander. The FSF commander
  then issues planning guidance for planning the execution of the mission and clarifies commander’s intent.
  The commander advises and assists the FSF commander throughout the operations process for the tactical
  operation(s) or training. By accompanying the FSF commander when the mission is received from higher
  headquarters, the commander assists any subsequent missions. The commander monitors how FSF
  subordinate units understand the commander’s intent and all specified and implied tasks.
  8-277. During the execution of the mission, the commander helps the FSF commander provide command
  and control during operations. While monitoring the tactical situation, the commander assesses activities and
  makes recommendations for changes to the chosen COAsto exploit the situation. After monitoring theflow
  of information, the commander assesses and makes recommended improvements to the use of intelligence
  collection assets and the processes used by subordinates to report required information.
  BCT Executive Officer
  8-278. The executive officer (XO) performs the organizational analysis of the FSF coordinating staff
  sections to ensure efficiency during the planning process according to the FSF commander’s initial planning
  guidance. With the foreign counterpart, the XO advises and assists the counterpart in directing foreign staff
  sections as they develop estimates, plans, and orders. The XO monitors and assesses the liaison and
  coordination with FSF higher headquarters, recommending changes to improve efficiencies.
  BCT Staff
  8-279. Before the mission, members of the staff advise and assist foreign counterparts in preparing staff
  estimates and assess COAs for essential tasks. The staff helps write tentative plans or orders based on the
  FSF commander planning guidance and FSF standing operating procedures. Plans, depending on the
  situation, may include primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency (known as PACE) plans.
  8-280. During execution, the staff helps foreign counterparts coordinate and assess the execution of FSF
  tasks. The staff assists in the dissemination of FSF plansor orders to senior and adjacent staff sections and
  supporting elements as required. The staff helps notify higher, lower, or adjacent staff sections of modified
  estimates and plans. The staff—led by the S-3 and S-2 and the S-3 and S-2 counterparts—helps update the
  CCIRs with the latest information and future requirements.
  Personnel Staff Officer
  8-281. The S-1 provides advice, assists, and assesses and makes recommendations to the foreign
  counterpart for all matters concerning human resources support. This includes monitoring the maintenance
  of foreign unit strength, pay, accountability of casualties, and unit morale. The S-1 must emphasize to
  subordinates the need to assist counterparts in paying troops and accounting for funds. Close observation of
  disbursement and unobtrusively polling FSF troops about their pay is a vital, but an unfamiliar, skill set
  amongst U.S. forces.