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HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan- The Marine Corps’ top general and his senior enlisted advisor visited Marines throughout southern Afghanistan to thank them for their service and sacrifice, July 17.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Governor of Logar province, Assistant to the Ministries of Defense, members of Parliament, tribal elders, the 203rd Afghan National Army Corps commander and soldiers, and Afghan National Police commander and police were all in attendance for a ceremony at Camp Miawon to mark the official transfer of power of three districts within Logar province from the International Security Assistance Force to Afghan forces July 12.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the official launch of Transition Tranche 3 May 13, the third phase in a process to an Afghan self-sustaining state. Tranche 3 includes 122 more districts, including all provincial capitals and now more than 75 percent of the people of Afghanistan living in security areas controlled by Afghan National Security Forces. Key leaders from throughout Logar province, and members of ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces gathered at Camp Miawon to celebrate the transfer of power of three districts in Logar province to the control of ANSF.

The mood was jovial as tribal elders, ANSF commanders, and members of Parliament greeted each other. Each welcomed the third stage of the transition whereby ANSF assume security responsibilities in the three northern districts of Logar province and they expressed their gratitude to ISAF for assistance.

The Governor of Logar province expressed his thanks, “I am grateful to ISAF for the many years of support for ANA with weapons and training that helped in defeating the enemies of the people, but now with the transfer of power, a new ANA will emerge to care for its country.”

Tranche 3 is the third of five tranches planned as ANSF progress toward taking full responsibility for security of Afghanistan. The 203rd ANA Corps commander accepts his new responsibility in Logar province, “I assure all the people of Logar that their security will be my priority and I can assure them they will be safe.”

Tranche 3 marks the start of transition in each of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

July 24, 2012: By Capt. Justin Casey, 7th Engineer Battalion

Redistributed by www.SupportOurTroops.org