Tactical Combat Advisory Group (TCAG) – Unit History
Founding and Purpose
The Tactical Combat Advisory Group (TCAG) was founded in early 2022 at the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Established by Bradley “Top” Crawford, a retired U.S. Army veteran, TCAG was built upon the traditions, knowledge, and experience of former Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) soldiers and international combat veterans who had served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Korea, and other operational theaters.
From its inception, TCAG’s purpose was clear: to train, advise, and assist Ukrainian forces on the front lines, not as an external entity, but as a partner embedded within the Ukrainian defense system. The group operates on a volunteer basis, with no salaries, no funding, and no financial compensation of any kind, guided by the core principle:
“Action, Not Words / Acta Non Verba.”
Mission and Mandate
TCAG operates as a Not-for-Profit, Not under government control, volunteer organization dedicated to improving combat readiness, training standards, and survivability across the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The group makes no money and does not solicit or accept payment for its work. We do however accept donations for Fuel, Training aids, and supplies. Every member serves voluntarily and is self-funded, covering their own travel and living expenses while deployed in Ukraine.
Working under Ukrainian law and in full compliance with U.S. Department of State and ITAR regulations, TCAG functions in a manner similar to a humanitarian organization—focusing on saving lives through knowledge, discipline, and effective training.
Its mission objectives are:
To train Ukrainian soldiers and instructors in advanced combat skills and modern warfare techniques.
To advise Ukrainian commanders at the platoon, company, and brigade levels.
To assist in building sustainable Ukrainian training systems that continue long after international volunteers leave.
Early Operations (2022)
TCAG began its first missions in Mykolaiv during the critical months following the Russian advance in southern Ukraine.
In 2022, Mr. Crawford worked with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s mobilization group on national defense, alongside members of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), focusing on improving mobilization efficiency, training reform, and operational planning. During this period, he also served as a senior advisor to both the Commander of the Ukrainian Marine Corps and the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, providing direct input on force regeneration, training standardization, and the integration of new Marine units.
Due to his direct work with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Mr. Crawford was the target of a deliberate Russian Kalibr missile strike on his residence. The precision-guided missile impacted approximately 30 meters from his home, causing significant destruction. Mr. Crawford was wounded in the blast, yet despite his injuries, he resumed training operations shortly afterward.
The targeted strike was a calculated attempt by Russian forces to eliminate him because of his advisory role and the growing effectiveness of Ukrainian units trained under TCAG guidance. This incident highlighted both the strategic value of TCAG’s mission and the risks faced by its personnel.
In mid-2022, Mr. Crawford and members of TCAG deployed to the frontlines with the 28th Mechanized Brigade, where they provided vital intelligence and special assistance for several days on the zero line. Operating under combat conditions, the team observed enemy movements, advised Ukrainian leaders on tactical adjustments, and delivered critical firsthand assessments that directly contributed to the success and safety of front-line units.
Throughout 2022, TCAG and its members also came under direct enemy fire multiple times, including exposure to cluster munitions, direct aviation attacks, and ballistic missile strikes, as Russian forces sought to disrupt the group’s training and advisory missions. Despite these dangers, TCAG continued its work without interruption, maintaining full operational readiness and completing every assigned training cycle.
Working with remnants of the 36th Marine Brigade, survivors of the siege of Mariupol, TCAG conducted rapid infantry reconstitution and developed new 30-day basic training and tactical programs for incoming Marine recruits.
These efforts laid the foundation for Ukraine’s Rapid Tactical Training Program (RTTP)—a streamlined system that transformed civilians into combat-ready soldiers capable of fighting in modern conditions.
By late 2022, TCAG had trained over 1,000 Ukrainian Marines, focusing on small-unit tactics, amphibious operations, trench warfare, medical training, and combined-arms coordination.
Expansion and Nationwide Impact (2023–2024)
Throughout 2023 and 2024, TCAG expanded its mission across Ukraine, working with more than 22 brigades and three national training centers. Its advisory teams operated in both rear-area and near-frontline environments, conducting combined training with Ukrainian instructors and units under direct coordination with brigade and training center leadership.
During operations in Kramatorsk in 2023, TCAG fell under direct enemy fire multiple times, including artillery and drone strikes, while conducting live tactical training with Ukrainian combat units. Despite repeated Russian attacks, the group remained on mission, completing every scheduled training event and continuing to mentor Ukrainian instructors and soldiers under combat conditions.
MAJOR COMMANDS AND UNITS SUPPORTED
General Staff (AFU) J7 Directorate
National Defense University of Ukraine (NDUU)
199th Airborne Training Center
241st Marine Training Center
Mykolaiv Combined Arms Training Center
79th Airborne Brigade
79th Border Guards Detachment
36th Marine Brigade
35th Marine Brigade
32nd Artillery Brigade
28th Mechanized Brigade
1st Separate Feodosia Battalion of Marines
501st Separate Marine Battalion
17th Tank Brigade
126th Territorial Defense Brigade
39th Coastal Defense Brigade “Black Sea Cossacks”
11th Brigade, National Guard of Ukraine (named after Mykhailo Hrushevskyi)
Mykolaiv Special Police
In addition to these formations, four additional units have requested to remain anonymous due to operational security concerns. TCAG has also advised and trained individual battalions and separate elements within several of these formations, tailoring instruction to their specific operational needs and combat tasks.
The Instructor Revolution (2025)
Recognizing that Ukraine’s long-term success depends on its training system, TCAG launched an initiative to create a standardized instructor course modeled on U.S. Army and NATO doctrine.
The course covered:
Classroom management and discipline
Learning styles and instructional methods
Communication skills and command presence
Tactical theory and after-action review (AAR) techniques
By 2025, Mr. Crawford had taught at multiple universities, including the National Defense University of Ukraine (NDUU), sharing practical battlefield insights and instructional expertise with Ukrainian officers, educators, and senior trainers. Under his leadership, TCAG has advised and mentored hundreds of new instructors, fundamentally transforming Ukraine’s military education process and changing the focus of instruction toward battlefield survival, adaptability, and unit success.
This initiative evolved into Ukraine’s Instructor Development Program, designed to professionalize and certify instructors across all service branches and create consistency in how Ukrainian soldiers are trained nationwide.
Partnerships and Recognition
TCAG maintains close relationships with Ukrainian and international partners, including:
Ukrainian Marine Corps Command
Ukrainian General Staff J-7 Directorate
National Defense University of Ukraine
Ukraine Defense Support
European Parliament representatives and NATO-based veteran networks
Through these partnerships, TCAG has earned official letters of cooperation, commendation, and blue-stamped authorization orders from multiple Ukrainian commands, confirming the legality and importance of its mission.
Legacy and Impact
Since 2022, TCAG has trained more than 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers, encompassing Marines, mechanized infantry, airborne, artillery, and territorial defense units. Its training has directly enhanced the combat survivability, discipline, and tactical performance of Ukrainian forces across multiple operational sectors.
What distinguishes TCAG is its integration model…foreign volunteers working shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainian instructors and soldiers, ensuring that every skill taught is locally sustainable and immediately applicable on the battlefield.
Each platoon trained, each instructor certified, and each soldier who returns home alive stands as a testament to the group’s mission and sacrifice.
Motto and Ethos
“Action, Not Words / Acta Non Verba.”
TCAG’s strength lies not in public attention, but in steadfast action beside the Ukrainian soldiers it serves…even under fire.
Current Status (2025)
As of 2025, TCAG continues to operate inside Ukraine under the leadership of Bradley “Top” Crawford, Retired U.S. Army Veteran, conducting advisory and training missions with frontline brigades and national-level training centers.
The group remains completely unpaid, self-funded, and independent, operating strictly as a Not-for-Profit, Not under government control, volunteer organization. TCAG continues to assist in developing doctrine, enhancing instructor capability, and standardizing training programs under guidance from Ukrainian leadership.
Its record of courage under fire, instructional excellence, and enduring professionalism has made it one of the most respected volunteer advisory organizations operating in Ukraine today.