US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E

By Capt. Jarrod MorrisFebruary 16, 2015

US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Two U.S. Department of State CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters carrying U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley and members of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul prepare to land at Tactical Base Gamberi Feb. 11, 2015. McKinley met with Train, Advise, As... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – P. Michael McKinley (center), U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan meets Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley (center left), the Train, Advise, Assist Command - East Commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Tagalicud (left), the incoming TAAC-E Senior Enlisted Leader... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left to right, Col. J.B. Vowell, the incoming Train, Advise, Assist Command - East Deputy Commanding Officer; Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Tagalicud, the incoming TAAC-E Senior Enlisted Leader; P. Michael McKinley, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan; an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left to right, Train, Advise, Assist Command - East Commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley; incoming TAAC-E Deputy Commanding Officer Col. J.B. Vowell; outgoing TAAC-E Deputy Commanding Officer Col. Cameron Cantlon; special assistant to the am... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left to right, Train, Advise, Assist Command - East Commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley; U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley; Afghan National Army 201st Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zaman Waziri; and incoming TAAC-E Dep... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US Ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley (center left) shakes hands with Afghan National Army 201st Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zaman Waziri (center right) at the conclusion of a meeting with U.S. and Afghan military leaders and staf... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Cameron Cantlon (center right), the Train, Advise, Assist Command - East Deputy Commanding Officer uses a laser pointer to highlight locations on a map of eastern Afghanistan to U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley (center left) du... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley, the Train, Advise, Assist Command - East Commander discusses functionally-based security force assistance with Afghan National Security Forces at the corps level with U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US ambassador to Afghanistan visits TAAC-E
9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Department of State CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter carrying U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley and members of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul departs Tactical Base Gamberi Feb. 11, 2015. McKinley met with Train, Advise, Assist Command -... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley visited Train, Advise, Assist Command - East at Tactical Base Gamberi Feb. 11, 2015.

McKinley's visit served two purposes. The ambassador met with TAAC-E leaders and staff to discuss the transition from Operation Enduring Freedom to NATO's new Resolute Support Mission, and McKinley also met with the Afghan National Army's 201st Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zaman Waziri to discuss Afghan National Security Forces operations and progress in eastern Afghanistan.

During the TAAC-E brief McKinley told the troops they are literally and figuratively on the front line with the new train, advise and assist mission in eastern Afghanistan. Under Resolute Support, the regionally-aligned TAACs are the lowest echelon of troops and designed to link Afghan corps-level security forces to the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior. McKinley went on to reaffirm the importance of TAAC-E advisers' efforts to help the ANSF become sustainable in the long term.

At an office call at the 201st Corps headquarters on the Afghan-controlled side of TB Gamberi Waziri provided the ambassador with an update on ANSF operations and activities in eastern Afghanistan. Improving communication and coordinating efforts between Afghan and Pakistani security forces were also topics of conversation. McKinley noted the importance of border cooperation and security between Afghanistan and Pakistan to keep weapons and insurgents from flowing across the border.

As the meeting concluded Waziri proclaimed his steadfast commitment to providing security to the people of Afghanistan and said, "I will fight to the last drop of my blood." The statement echoes similar proclamations by ANSF leaders across Afghanistan in recent months.

The visit to TAAC-E was McKinley's first as ambassador since his confirmation by the Senate Dec. 9, 2014. Prior to confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan McKinley served as Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan from Sep. 2013 to Dec. 2014.

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