What problems did Scipio Africanus the Younger find in the Roman army in Spain?

When Scipio Africanus the Younger took command of the Celtiberian war in 134 BCE, he found the Roman troops in Spain in a "shocking state" of indiscipline.1

Following years of humiliating setbacks and defeats for Rome in the region, the army had suffered from a breakdown in order and effectiveness. To address these issues, Scipio’s first priority upon arriving in Spain was to "rediscipline" the forces. To assist in this effort, he brought with him a group of volunteers and a specialized corps of 500 friends and dependents, who served as a bodyguard—an early precursor to the praetorian cohort.1

These measures were part of a broader, more effective policy Scipio implemented to stabilize the Roman military presence, which ultimately allowed him to successfully blockade and capture the town of Numantia in 133 BCE.1