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.
Marine Corps Sgt. Robert Elsenpeter, who is a native of Stafford, Va., served as the training clerk 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 were Maj. Walter Maessen, operations officer and native of San Antonio, Gunnery Sgt. Shaun Leek, senior enlisted adviser and native of Virginia, Minn., Staff Sgt. Marcuss Hernandez, who is a native of Woodland, Calif., served as the training chief, 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 Sgt. Robert Elsenpeter 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: (757)962-4430 Ext. 2265. Cell: (757) 672-3039 or at alexis.mulero@usmc.mil.