Marines on the Leading Edge of Change

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen recently visited with marines at Camp Barber, Afghanistan. Adm. Mullen spoke to about 400 Marines, sailors, airmen and
soldiers assigned to Task Force 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Combined Joint Task Force, personally thanked the service members for their wartime service.

"You are on the leading edge of positive change in Afghanistan," said Adm. Mullen.


Before departing the area, Adm. Mullen commended the task force on what it has accomplished in only a few months. Although he acknowledged that the mission to train, mentor and advise the Afghanistan National Police is a "different mission" for Marines, he also noted the significance of their efforts to aid in bringing peace and prosperity to the Afghan people.

The task force, which deployed here in early April, is currently operating throughout the Helmand and Farah provinces of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

(Information courtesy of Staff Sergeant Joseph L. Loewy, Public Affairs Chief, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment Camp Barber, Afghanistan)