A military ceremony was organized at the 495th 'Stefan Soverth' Infantry Battalion location on Friday, January 28, for the deployment of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) on its fourth rotation in the theater of operation in Afghanistan.

In his message to the troops, defence minister Gabriel Oprea said: 'The effort you engage in is a highly important one, as it is through your activity that the Afghan forces will eventually reach the operational level necessary to carry out their missions independently, with no outside assistance'.

Minister Gabriel Oprea continued by saying that 'The fact that the OMLT will be there for its fourth rotation since the beginning of this mission is proof that the Romanian Armed Forces are up to the assumed commitments as a NATO ally showing the determination of the division and brigade personnel you are part of'.

Minister Gabriel Oprea expressed his belief that the OMLT put together and trained by the 1st 'Vasile Lupu' Mechanized Brigade will accomplish its task very well and reassured the troops that the defence ministry will take care that everything would be all right for their families at home.

Today`s ceremony was attended by the troops` relatives, military personnel and representatives of the General Staff.

During their six-month mission, the about 30 troops of the detachment will conduct training and mentoring activities with military personnel of the Afghan national Army.

MoND Press Office