International Security Assistance Force

While Afghanistan continues to have significant security problems, the larger-scale combat of the Afghanistan War (2001-) is over, and the NATO International Security Assistance Force has a dual mission of improving Afghanistan's military and police, as well as direct combat. It is commanded by a U.S. four-star general who is also commander of United States Forces - Afghanistan (USFOR-A).

ISAF command

On May 12, 2009, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asked for the resignation of the USFOR-A/ISAF commander, GEN David McKiernan; he is to be replaced by LTG Stanley A. McChrystal.. McChrystal comes from a special operations background, as opposed to McKiernan's in armor.

ISAF structure

While ISAF is under the auspices of NATO, a total of 41 countries, not all NATO members. are involved.

The composite headquarters is colocated with Regional Command Capital. France operates the Capital command.

There are five regional commands of ISAF.

• North: Germany forces; primarily training
• East: U.S.
• South: rotating command between Dutch, Canadian, and British forces,
• West: Italy; primarily training
• Capital: The capital region included the composite ISAF HQ, made up of members of all 41 contributing nations

Under USFOR-A, overtly, are two major commands, one combat and one advisory/training. Combat capabilities are based on a U.S. division, forming a U.S. task force named for the division (i.e., currently Combined Joint Task Force-101, based on the 101st Airborne Division), which is also the ISAF Regional Command-East. Assigned to Afghanistan are the division headquarters, 4th Brigade Combat Team, the 101st Aviation Brigade and the 101st Sustainment Brigade; the remaining brigade combat teams are in Iraq.

Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan is headed by a U.S. major general, with British and Canadian brigadier general deputies.