San Antonio native return from seven-month deployment to the republic of Georgia

Courtesy Photo | Marines from Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group were presented a plaque by the Republic of Georgia's 31st Light Infantry Battalion prior to returning home from their seven-month deployment in support of the Georgia Deployment Program - International Security Assistance Force (GDP-ISAF). These five MCTAG Marines formed part of the Georgia Training Team (GTT), which provides the coordination and support element to the GDP-ISAF instructors throughout a Georgian infantry battalion's training cycle. Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group is the lead component for the planning, coordination, and execution of GDP-ISAF. Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group is a unit the specializes in conducting security cooperation (SC) training and events in support of regional Marine Force headquarters and the GDP-ISAF training program is the largest and longest mission to date. Marines standing up from left to right are Maj. Walter Maessen, Maj. Matthew O'Donnell, Gunnery Sgt. James Wells and kneeling from left to right are Sgt. Robert Elsenpeter, Staff Sgt. Marcuss Hernandez and Sgt. Thomas Perez.  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, UNITED STATES

09.28.2011

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Five Marines from Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group (MCTAG) returned home from a seven-month deployment to the Republic of Georgia, Sept. 27.

Maj. Walter Maessen, who a native of San Antonio, served as the operations officer for this deployment in support of the 4th rotation of Georgia Deployment Program-International Security Assistance Force (GDP-ISAF), which is a United States European Command program that trains and equips Republic of Georgia infantry battalions to serve alongside Marines in Afghanistan.

Also on the deployment was, Gunnery Sgt. Shaun Leek, senior enlisted adviser and native of Virginia, Minn. Staff Sgt. Marcuss Hernandez, training chief and native of Woodland, Calif., Sgt. Robert Elsenpeter, training clerk native of Stafford, Va. and Sgt. Tomas Perez, logistics chief and native of Los Angeles.

These five MCTAG Marines formed part of the Georgia Training Team (GTT), which provides the coordination and support element to the GDP-ISAF instructors throughout a Georgian infantry battalion's training cycle. They also provided liaison between U.S. and Georgian forces in order better facilitate the training efforts of the GDP-ISAF program.

Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group is the lead component for the planning, coordination, and execution of GDP-ISAF.

Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group is a unit the specializes in conducting security cooperation (SC) training and events in support of regional Marine Force headquarters and the GDP-ISAF training program is the largest and longest mission to date.

For more information on Maj. Walter Maessen or on Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group and their role in the Georgia Deployment Program - International Security Assistance Force, please contact Gunnery Sgt. Alexis R. Mulero, MCTAG Public Affairs Chief at Office: [phone] Ext. 2265. Cell: [phone] or at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 09.28.2011
• Date Posted: 09.28.2011 16:11
• Story ID: 77707
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US