3rd Battalion, 353rd Armor Regiment Assists Units with Security Cooperation and Security-Force Assistance Training

3rd Battalion, 353rd Armor Regiment Assists Units with Security Cooperation and Security-Force Assistance Training by MAJ Richard W. Duncan When 162nd Infantry Brigade at Fort Polk, LA, deactivated in October 2014, this consolidated the brigade’s training capabilities into 3rd Battalion, 353rd Armor Regiment, to support the Army operating concept. The new operating concept called for the Army to engage regionally to shape security environments and set the theater of operations. The 3-353rd, a battalion within Operations Group at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), supports these requirements by training Army and joint individual advisers and units on security cooperation (SC) and security-force assistance (SFA) mission requirements. Leveraging JRTC’s capabilities, the 52nd Translator and Interpreter Company and the adviser deployment experience of JRTC’s observers/controllers/ trainers, 3-353rd Armor Regiment develops tailored training programs to meet unit training objectives in preparation for SC or SFA mission requirements. The training programs include:

• Classes;

• Threaded scenario practical exercises; and

• Scenario immersion covering core competencies in basic advising, culture, history, use of interpreters, rapport-building, influencing and negotiations, training host-nation security forces, SC and SFA principles, and combat skills. Engaged regionally, 3-353rd Regiment integrates lessons-learned and best practices from theater, coupled with Army and joint doctrine, to enable units to meet mission requirements. For coordinating unit training or for more information on the lessons-learned, best practices, programs of instruction and published articles, visit the unit’s Website at http://www. jrtc-polk.army.mil/Transition_team/index.html or contact the battalion operations officer at (337) 653-3120. MAJ Richard Duncan is the battalion course director, 3-353rd Armor Regiment, Fort Polk, LA. His military schooling includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course, Military Transition Team Training and Joint Firepower Course. MAJ Duncan holds a bachelor’s of science degree in management information systems from Auburn University and a master’s of science degree in business administration from Columbus State University. His awards and honors include the Bronze Star Medal (with oak-leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Combat Action Badge.