[Discussion] Former 1st SFAB Becomes ASCG South to Run Jungle Training in Panama

[Uncrowned Guard]

Former Advisory Unit Receives New Mission in Panama

An Army unit originally created to train Afghan security forces has been redesignated and assigned a new role focused on jungle warfare training in Central America. The 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade formally ceased operations this week and was reconstituted as Army Security Cooperation Group – South. The newly named organization will operate the Combined Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama, marking a significant shift in mission from advising foreign forces to providing specialized terrain training for U.S. and partner militaries.

The change was announced during a ceremony on Tuesday at Fort Benning, Georgia. Col. Keith W. Benedict, the group’s commander, said the unit is now tasked with leading combined and combined-arms jungle training efforts, emphasizing operational expertise rather than advisory roles.

Combined Jungle Operations Training Course

The 21-day Combined Jungle Operations Training Course is conducted at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón in Panama, a former U.S. Army installation transferred to Panamanian control in 1999. The course brings together U.S. and Panamanian forces to train in jungle survival, small-unit tactics, combat tracking, and waterborne operations.

Since the course resumed last year, most participants have been U.S. Marines, trained by a mix of Army and Panamanian instructors. According to Army officials, the first large group of U.S. Army soldiers is scheduled to begin training in February, reflecting expanded Army participation after more than two decades without routine jungle training in Panama.

Introduction of the Army Jungle Tab

Beginning next month, soldiers who complete the course will receive the Army’s jungle tab for the first time. Army Col. Mike Burns, a spokesman for U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, said the tab signifies proficiency in jungle-specific skills, including maneuver tactics, survival techniques, and operations in austere, water-dominated environments. The tab formalizes jungle warfare as a recognized Army skill set, similar to existing tabs for other specialized training.

Strategic Focus on the Western Hemisphere

The establishment of the Army Security Cooperation Group – South aligns with a broader shift in U.S. defense priorities toward Latin America and the Western Hemisphere. The Defense Department’s most recent National Defense Strategy emphasizes defending U.S. interests throughout the region and preventing adversaries from establishing threatening capabilities close to U.S. territory. The Panama-based training mission is intended to strengthen regional partnerships while improving U.S. readiness for operations in jungle terrain.

SFAB Drawdown and Reorganization

Between 2017 and 2020, the Army created six Security Force Assistance Brigades—five active-duty and one National Guard—to provide dedicated advisory units for foreign conventional forces. Conceived under the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, the SFABs initially focused on training Afghan, Iraqi, and Peshmerga forces. The 1st SFAB deployed to Afghanistan in 2018 before later shifting attention to South America.

The Army is now reducing the number of SFABs. Of the original six, only the 5th SFAB, oriented toward the Indo-Pacific, will retain its original advisory mission. Army officials have said the drawdown is intended to return experienced noncommissioned officers to traditional infantry and armor units, reinforcing conventional force readiness.

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