Advising the Command: Best Practices from the Special Operations Advisory Experience in Afghanistan
This RAND report identifies best practices for U.S. and coalition special operations advisors partnered with Afghan Special Security Forces at the operational level. Drawing from the NATO Special Operations advisory mission in Afghanistan, the research addresses the full advisory lifecycle — from pre-deployment training through continuity of operations across rotations. Key findings emphasize that effective advising depends on sustained rapport-building with counterparts, culturally calibrated engagement techniques that avoid imposing Western frameworks, proper integration across both coalition and host-nation force structures, and deliberate efforts to build local ownership and sustainability rather than dependency on coalition enablers. The report offers practical recommendations for commanders and advisors engaged in operational-level partnering missions.