Risi assumes command of TAAC-W

By Kevin Walston (USFOR-A)March 19, 2015

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Italian Brig. Gen. Michele Risi assumed command of the Train Advise Assist Command West today from Brig. Gen. Maurizio Scardino in a ceremony officiated by Gen. John Campbell, commander, Resolute Support Mission in Herat, Afghanistan. TAAC-W conducts... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Italian Brig. Gen. Michele Risi assumed command of the Train Advise Assist Command West today from Brig. Gen. Maurizio Scardino in a ceremony officiated by Gen. John Campbell, commander, Resolute Support Mission in Herat, Afghanistan. TAAC-W conducts... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Italian Brig. Gen. Michele Risi assumed command of the Train Advise Assist Command West today from Brig. Gen. Maurizio Scardino in a ceremony officiated by Gen. John Campbell, commander, Resolute Support Mission in Herat, Afghanistan. TAAC-W conducts... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Italian Brig. Gen. Michele Risi assumed command of the Train Advise Assist Command West today from Brig. Gen. Maurizio Scardino in a ceremony officiated by Gen. John Campbell, commander, Resolute Support Mission in Herat, Afghanistan. TAAC-W conducts... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HERAT AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (March 18, 2015) -- Italian Brig. Gen. Michele Risi assumed command of the Train Advise Assist Command West (TAAC-W) today from Brig. Gen. Maurizio Scardino in a transfer of authority ceremony officiated by Gen. John Campbell, commander, Resolute Support.

Scardino also commands Italy's Garibaldi Brigade and received the U.S. Legion of Merit during the ceremony; he thanked his Afghan and coalition partners for the cooperation he received during his tenure.

"[Your] efforts are the reason for our success over the past year," Scardino said. "From Gen. Campbell's leadership to the hard work of the officers and NCOs, each of you played an important part. The future is bright and I wish you well."

TAAC-W conducts functionally based security force assistance in order to maximize Afghan National Defense and Security Force's self-sustaining capacity to secure the Afghan population in the western region. It is also responsible for retrograde, redeployment and basing activities to set conditions for Kabul-led advising that will begin in the next phase of advising. The Italian-led command includes forces from the United States, Spain, Lithuania, Slovenia, Hungary, Albania and Ukraine.

Campbell said the Soldiers of the famed Garibaldi Brigade had served during a critical season where they carried the responsibility of the Train-Advise-Assist mission during the harsh months of winter.

"There were key changes during your time here. You employed your forces along the main supply routes to allow the Afghan forces to secure the population during a critical period of uncertainty, and the National Unity Government had not yet been formed," he said. "Many thought the Afghan security forces would fracture along ethnic lines, they didn't, and you were able to witness it here in Western Afghanistan."

Italian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dr. Luciano Pezzotti hailed Scardino as a visionary whose hard work and leadership forged an important partnership between Italy and Afghanistan.

"Gen. Scardino's performance here has laid the ground work for the important road ahead," Ambassador Pezzotti said. "General Risi steps into big shoes, but he's the right man at the right time to ensure success."

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