Military Review English Edition November-December 2014 | Page 72

less advising experience and know-how. As a result, at
times, conventional-force advisors suffer from an overly
constraining conventional military modus operandi.23
There are several questions and issues that combat
advisors who fall under conventional commands must
be prepared to encounter. For example, will their
leaders and policies enable them to unconventionally adapt to their circumstances to best accomplish
the mission? Will conventional combat advisors be
permitted to live on their counterparts’ bases, travel
in their counterparts’ vehicles, and frequently visit
their counterparts in combat zones? Or, will advisors be compelled to rigidly follow all convoy rule
requirements even if doing so reduces time spent with
counterparts? Will combat advisors be allowed to alter their military appearance standards while working
with counterparts (e.g., to grow a beard for an advising tour in Afghanistan or to make minor uniform
modifications such as wearing a badge awarded by a
counterpart)?24

These are important questions because combat
conditions require the Army to strike a delicate and
vital balance. On one hand, the force must ensure
security, safety, and important soldier standards. On
the other hand, it must adequately empower combat
advisors by allowing some beneficial unconventional
actions so advisors can build camaraderie and trust
with counterparts.
Overcome the second-tier military advising
mission syndrome. Despite some high-ranking political-military leaders that espouse the tremendous
importance of the advising mission, as did former
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the organizational
acceptance of the advising mission has been mixed and
contradictory.25 Some commanders genuinely value
and support it, while other units and leaders marginalize and tacitly resist the unconventional advisory
mission—showing a strong preference and favoritism
for emphasizing conventional direct combat operations
at the expense of unconventional activities.26

Sgt. 1st Class David Cox, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, and Jesse
Mill, a law enforcement advisor, talk with an Afghan Border Police student with the assistance of an interpreter at a checkpoint near Waza
Khwa, Afghanistan, 14 December 2009. The student was participating in a 3-week leadership development course.
(U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Dallas Edwards)

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November-December 2014  MILITARY REVIEW