By Sebastian Bonilla
Unexpected Introduction
“Captain Bonilla, you have been selected to serve as the Human Resources Officer (S1) for the Tiger Battalion, Advising Team 510.” Those were the words of the 5th SFAB S1. I thought to myself “Wow, this is definitely exciting news.” However, I had not anticipated just how rewarding an assignment with an SFAB unit would turn out to be.
Typically, as the S1 of any unit, our responsibility involves deploying and redeploying the entire unit for the next mission. Nevertheless, I never expected to lead our unit’s deployment to Thailand amidst the COVID-19 restrictions, followed by help orchestrate deployments to over eleven countries across the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, I had never envisioned myself working with our Army partners in Mongolia!
Major Thomas Beecroft, the Brigade S1, approached me and explained that that 5th SFAB was a selective unit for a reason. “We must be capable of operating in the absence of guidance and in an extremely autonomous manner,” he conveyed. Initially, I felt as though he had simply told me, “Sebastian, you are on your own.” Little did I realize that his unwavering support was constantly by my side, no matter where I found myself.
International Exposure
Assisting in navigating the passport and visa requirements for countries such as Thailand, Mongolia, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Fiji, Korea, and other potential locations within the INDOPACOM AOR, led me to interact with multiple embassies, country desk officers, and foreign partners.
Amidst jokes and conversations, Major Beecroft highlighted how I was demonstrating impressive independence across various efforts, tasks usually entrusted to a Foreign Area Officer (FAO). Recognizing my fervor during this process, he suggested that I pursue the FAO avenue. I soon learned more about FAOs. It began with our Thailand Country brief — a process aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the operational environment and the culture of each location. The briefer, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Andre Rivier, was an old acquaintance of Colonel Rowland, the 1st Battalion, 5th SFAB commander. LTC (retired) Rivier gave us thorough overview of Thailand and demonstrated deep cultural understanding. I was impressed.
Upon listening to a FAO collaborating with our SFAB advisors, I realized the immense significance and purpose behind my role. Soon after our Thailand deployment and subsequent training in Washington State and Louisianna, I found myself actively contributing to our Nation’s strategic objectives in ways I hadn’t even comprehended – grappling with terms like Title 10, Title 32, country clearances, and meticulously tracking our Advisor’s movements throughout the Indo-Pacific Region, all while managing my own deployment to Mongolia.
And out we go into the Indo-Pacific!
As we commenced the deployment of all our advisors, SSG John Murray and I had to split operations and efforts. While I was working directly with the Battalion Headquarters in Mongolia, SSG Murray took charge of managing all the home station requirements, deploying teams, and receiving them when they redeployed.
Once I arrived in Mongolia, I executed my normal HR responsibilities and Colonel Rowland and my chain of command selected me to serve as the 5th SFAB’s Liaison Officer to the Mongolian Land Forces Command (MLFC), an entity comparable to the Army staff in the Pentagon. It was here that I truly comprehended the significance of this role and recognized the reach we could achieve with the SFAB teams. My counterpart, Mongolian Army Major Mobi needed assistance to brief his superiors about what our SFAB teams were doing and planning to do with the Mongolian Army. Fortunately, I was able to assist him during this process and made him look good. It certainly strengthened our relationship. He reciprocated the favor when the U.S. ambassador to Mongolia visited the MLFC, and I was there to provide a briefing. In turn, MAJ Mobi helped me improve the clarity of our partnership brief.
Continuing My Work with Allies and Partners
Thanks to these remarkable engagements and experiences, I became a Foreign Area Officer. My time with the SFAB prepared me to collaborate with numerous senior leaders and to diplomatically navigate the military partnership efforts of the U.S. Army. Reflecting on my journey, my experience with the 5th SFAB was both distinctive and invaluable. It granted me a deeper insight into global security challenges, honed my leadership and interpersonal skills, and enabled me to contribute significantly to enhancing the capabilities of foreign partner forces. The memories, friendships, and lessons I acquired during my tenure at the 5th SFAB will endure, influencing my personal and professional growth in profound ways. Serving in the 5th SFAB was an honor, and I will forever take pride in my association with this exceptional unit.
