Military Advisors, U.S.

Throughout the 20th century, American military advisors, military personnel sent to a foreign country to advise and aid the local military forces, have followed the flag as the United States expanded both its territory and its influence well beyond American shores. At times, these forces were tasked with training indigenous forces to combat domestic insurgences, while at other times, Washington dispatched advisors in order to strengthen relations and foster military cooperation. Although often successful in these roles, advisors have, more often than not, been unable to transplant core American military values in the ranks of their advisees. Nor have they generally succeeded in prompting their hosts to adopt the longstanding American “performance-based selection, training and promotion system.” This entry discusses the history and the role ...