The exercise took place from January 24 to February 8, 2025, in Columbus, GA, and Phoenix City, AL. The training, delivered under the Enterprise Training Service Contract (ETSC) IDIQ Contract, A2T Task Order, provided members of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (1SFAB) with essential skills to mitigate both cyber and physical threats during overseas operations.
Applied Training Solutions (ATS) played a key role in facilitating the exercise, delivering instruction on digital device hardening, force protection measures, threat detection, and vulnerability assessments. Additional training included file and partition encryption, social media footprint management, and traveler safety. ATS also provided independent contractors to act as an adversarial red cell, physically and digitally testing the students and offering real-time feedback on their defensive strategies.
The purpose of the A2T T3 course is to enhance situational awareness for SFAB personnel, preparing them for the unique security challenges encountered during overseas deployments. By conducting training in CONUS locations near home stations, SFAB advisors gain insight into how hostile elements operate and learn critical countermeasures against intelligence-gathering threats in both cyber and physical domains.
Throughout the course, participants engaged in practical exercises designed to evaluate their ability to recognize and respond to threats effectively. The training ensured that students left with an entry-level understanding of risk mitigation strategies, not only for themselves but also for their teams, families, and close associates.
According to Captain Mills, one of the participants, “This course is exactly what advisors at the brigade need to become aware of the hybrid threats that are out there.”
The A2T T3 training was deemed highly successful, with soldiers demonstrating proficiency in implementing risk mitigation strategies. The trained advisors are now equipped to mentor their peers, further amplifying the impact of the course across their units.
By addressing critical training gaps identified in the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) 39 Program of Instruction (POI) Review, ATS continues to deliver high-quality training that enhances force protection and mission readiness. The skills gained through this program enable SFAB personnel to operate more securely in complex and evolving operational environments.
For more information on ATS and its training solutions, please visit www.appliedtrg.com.
