Early next year, soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division will shelve their combat experience from the Middle East to become training advisors to African forces.

In January, the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Riley, Kan., will become the Army’s first “regionally-aligned” brigade assigned to U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM. The Dagger Brigade will likely be broken into a collection of small, security force assistance units that will be tasked with improving the quality of African military forces.

This is the beginning of the Army’s plan to adapt its forces to exist in a future that doesn’t revolve around preparing for year-long combat rotations to Afghanistan.

When combat forces withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014, large portions of the active and Reserve components may end up moving away from their traditional mission set that ranges from high-intensity combat to peacekeeping and stability operations. Many will assume the role of building strategic partnerships around the globe, Army planners said.

 “There are some units that will remain as the global-response force to go out the door rapidly,” said Rickey Smith, director of Army Capabilities Integration Center Forward. “But if you are not that type of unit, and you are not going to Afghanistan on your next rotation, what are you focused on?”Click here to read more

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