Marines Conduct "Advise and Assist" Role in Four-Man Elements with ANSF

The Marines have embraced the "Advise and Assist" role in Afghanistan - at least in Now Zad, Helmand Province.  The Marines are no longer taking a small element of the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) on their platoon-sized patrols to "Put an Afghan Face" on their missions.  It is now reversed.  Marines provide a four-man element to accompany a predominantly Afghan patrol on the ANSF mission. While many would say that the Marines are assuming some risk sending out four-man patrols with the ANSF; others would say that this is surely transition and the way we should have been operating several years back. I wonder if the Army "Advise and Assist" units scheduled to rotate in over the next year are ready to conduct four-man patrols with the Afghans.  Read more in "Marines in Helmand partner, mentor in Now Zad", DVIDS, February 9, 2012.