text: Chapter 8
  host-nation civilians or military forces with medical, construction, power generation, maintenance and
  supply, or transportation capabilities).
  PREPARATION
  8-245. Preparation for SFA creates conditions that improve the BCT’s opportunities for success. The degree
  to which the BCT is tasked within SFA operations depends on preparation in terms of cultural knowledge,
  language, functional skills, and the ability to apply these skills within the operational environment.
  Preparation includes, but is not limited to, initiate security and information collection, continue to coordinate
  and conduct liaison, refine the plan, complete task organization, conduct pre-mission training, conduct
  rehearsals and inspections; continue to build partnerships and teams, and initial movement. Preparation
  facilitates and sustains plans-to-operations transitions, including those to branches and sequels, which are of
  vital importance for the often-dynamic operational environment for SFA.
  PRE-MISSION PREPARATIONS
  8-246. After receiving a mission, the BCT continues detailed preparation activities, prepares for and
  rehearses classes given in country, and conducts extensive briefings on the area of operations. Key staff and
  subordinate unit actions particular to SFA are address in the following paragraphs.
  Current Operations
  8-247. The BCT S-3 ensures predeployment training for Soldiers, to include preparation for training FSF
  and rehearsals for movement. The S-3 reviews the program of instruction for training FSF, to include getting
  approval from the commander, and higher headquarters if necessary. The S-3, in coordination with BCT civil
  affairs operations staff officer (S-9), ensures the operation plan minimizes how operations affect the civilian
  population and addresses ways to mitigate the civilian impact on military operations. The civil-military
  operations plan is coordinated with the indigenous population and institutions, unified action partners, other
  civil entities, and interagency as necessary. This coordination might include civil affairs battalions or
  brigades, provincial reconstruction teams, or United States Agency for International Development project
  officers in the area of operations.
  Note.The primary staff officers of the current operations cell may be called upon to be the primary
  advisors to the host-nation forces staff sections and cells.
  8-248. The BCT intelligence staff officer (S-2) supervises the dissemination of intelligence and other
  operationally pertinent information within the unit and, as applicable, to higher, lower, or adjacent units or
  agencies. The S-2 monitors the implementation of the intelligence collection plans to include updating the
  commander’s priority intelligence requirements, conducting area assessment, and coordinating for additional
  intelligence support. The S-2 establishes liaison with FSF intelligence and security agencies (within the
  guidelines provided by applicable higher authority). The S-2 assesses the intelligence threat and resulting
  security requirements, including coordination with the S-3 on specific security and operations security
  measures.
  8-249. The BCT personnel staff officer (S-1) supervises the battalion personnel staff section, in
  coordination with brigade and higher echelon manpower and personnel staff sections. The S-1 screens
  personnel files to review the records of identified Soldiers that might have specific skill sets useful to the
  BCT or higher echelon during the conduct of SFA operations. Skill sets include individuals with professional
  certification or work experience in those nonmilitary fields that might have utility during operations focused
  on the conduct of stability operations tasks.
  8-250. The BCT S-4 supervises, as required, the logistics support of SFA augmentees and FSF within the
  BCT area of operations to conduct operational missions (supporting host-nation civilians or military forces
  with medical, construction, power generation, maintenance, supply, or transportation capabilities).
  8-251. The BCT S-6, in coordination with the division assistant chief of staff, signal, ensures depth in
  communication and synchronization between organizations both horizontally and vertically within the BCT’s