Change of Command - Operational Mentor and Liaison Team

KANDAHAR — During a ceremony held at Kandahar Airfield on Thursday, February 21, 2008, Colonel Jean-François Riffou assumed the command of the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) in Kandahar Province, replacing Colonel Stéphane Lafaut. The transfer of command authority was completed in the presence of Colonel Christian Juneau, deputy commanding officer of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, and Colonel Abdul Basir, commanding officer of 1st Brigade, 205th Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA). Col. Riffou will command the OMLT for six months.

During his command tour with the OMLT, Col. Lafaut fielded strong multi-disciplinary teams that advised and supervised the soldiers of the five kandaks of the 1st Brigade, 205th Corps ANA and members of the headquarters staff at Brigade and Corps level. Outside the wire, the OMLT conducted joint operations with the ANA and liaised with the Canadian Forces to ensure that the ANA received the assets required for both joint and autonomous operations. Throughout his tour, Col. Lafaut was also the main advisor to the brigade commander, Col. Abdul Basir.

“With this professional development initiative, the ANA will enhance its capability to establish and maintain peace and stability in Afghanistan,” said Col. Lafaut.

Expanding on its mentoring work with the ANA, in September 2007 the OMLT launched the Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (POMLT), a new concept developed jointly with Afghan authorities, the Afghan national security forces, and Joint Task Force Afghanistan to train, advise and monitor the Afghan National Police (ANP). “The OMLT and POMLT contribute by giving the Afghan people hope for a better future while helping the Afghan national security forces create a security environment to enhance life in Afghanistan and self-determination for Afghan society,” added Col. Lafaut.

Col. Jean-François Riffou, the new commanding officer, praised the OMLT’s achievements under Col. Lafaut command. “The OMLT’s goal is to establish permanent winning conditions for the transfer of responsibility for security to the Afghan national security forces. I congratulate Col. Lafaut and his team for the enthusiasm with which they took on this challenge in the Zhari and Panjwayi Districts. My team will take up the torch and continue their work, expanding by a little more the zone of safety and lasting development for the Afghan people,” said Col. Riffou. As for the challenge of leading a diversified team of infantry, military police and logisticians, he pledged that the OMLT will continue to help the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to extend its authority over the 17 districts of Kandahar Province.

During the change of command parade, Col. Christian Juneau also praised Col. Lafaut’s achievements and told the soldiers under his command that they can be proud of their accomplishments.