120126-A-EM852-020: Balkh province, Afghanistan – 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander Col. Patrick Matlock briefs International Security Assistance Force commander Gen. John R. Allen on his brigade’s experience transitioning to a Security Force Assistance Brigade in Regional Command – North, Jan. 26, at Camp Marmal. The briefing served as an opportunity for Gen. Allen to hear an overall assessment from one of the first ground units to take on a mission geared primarily toward advising their Afghan National Security Force partners and for the general to offer his guidance and direction for future operations. Members of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who will be assuming responsibility for the Security Force Assistance Mission in RC-North, also attended the briefing. (U.S. Army Photo/ Sgt. April Campbell) (released)

Kabul, Afghanistan — International Security Assistance Force commander Gen. John R. Allen traveled to Camp Marmal, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, where members of the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gave the general an overview of the brigade’s transition to a Security Force Assistance Brigade in Regional Command - North.

The briefing served as an opportunity for Gen. Allen to hear an overall assessment from one of the first ground units to take on a mission geared primarily toward advising their Afghan National Security Force partners and for the general to offer his guidance and direction for future operations.

Members of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who will be assuming responsibility for the Security Force Assistance Mission in RC-North, also attended the briefing.

“As the incoming brigade combat team in RC-North, it was a great opportunity to hear directly from Gen. Allen on his perspective of our area and the way ahead. His emphasis on continuing our partnerships with the ANSF and providing key brigade-level capabilities to this area was clear intent for this brigade,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Gabriel, the operations officer for the 37th IBCT.

With the experiences of the 170th IBCT to learn from and build on, Gen. Allen and the 37th IBCT will maintain ISAF’s presence in a strong advisory role to the Afghan security forces in northern Afghanistan.