Georgian military welcomes American leader to top Afghanistan post

A leading American Marine has taken over a top military post in Afghanistan, and gained leadership over a Georgian Battalion in Afghanistan.

Brigadier General Daniel Yoo has replaced Major-General Walter Miller as the head of the Regional Command Southwest (RC-SW), an international military formation and one component of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan, where Georgian troops serve.

Furthermore, the U.S II Marine Expeditionary Brigade passed on full responsibility to the ‘Marine Expeditionary Brigade of Afghanistan’ to lead and control the Afghanistan provinces of Helmand and Nimruz.

The 31st Battalion of III Light Infantry Brigade of Georgian Armed Forces will fulfill a peacekeeping mission as part of the ‘Marine Expeditionary Brigade of Afghanistan’.

The handover ceremony of security responsibility to Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) was held at camp "Leatherneck” on February 7. The incoming and outgoing leaders of the Marine Forces exchanged combat flags of the command and expeditionary units at an event attended by ANSF, allied countries representatives and the Georgian 31st Battalion Commander Giorgi Meshveliani.

Following the ceremony, the new RC-SW Commander Brigadier General Daniel Yoo visited one of the control posts in camp "Leatherneck.

Meshveliani met General Yoo and briefed him about the current situation as well as the duties and obligations of Georgian military servicemen.

Next year, the ‘Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan’ will be leading the Coalition Forces operations in the Helmand and Nimruz provinces.

ISAF leadership believed next year will be the most important period in the 13 year-long security mission in Afghanistan. The country is preparing for presidential elections where the country’s political authority will be transferred by means of polling for the first time in Afghan history.