Marine Afghan Partnership Grows With Afghan Officer Visit

Afghan national army officers discuss lessons learned alongside Marines and Navy personnel while participating in combat scenario training exercises Jan. 14 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The Afghan officers, working alongside Marines from a Marine Corps Transition Team, observed and participated in simulated patrol missions, urban terrain operations, and detainee actions. Marine transition teams complete this training package before deploying to Afghanistan where they partner with Afghan forces to assist in improving their security capabilities. "By showing the Afghan officers how we train and what we train, we improve the effectiveness of the transition teams in theater," said Capt. Seth Asay, escort officer from NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan. The Marine Corps Advisory Training Group organized and oversaw the training portion of the Afghan officers' visit that also included cultural engagements and partnering discussions with Marine Corps leaders. "Visits like this are integral to the continued growth and strengthening of the partnership between the Marine Corps and Afghan forces," said Lt. Col. Glenn Lewis, operations officer of the advisory training group. (U.S. Marines Photo/Gunnery Sgt Christian M. Harding)