When the I Marine Expeditionary Force returns to Iraq early next year, its top priority will be to train the Iraqi armed forces and embed Marines with Iraqi units to serve as mentors, according to Lt. Gen. John Sattler, I MEF commander. I MEF is scheduled to begin a phased rotation back to Iraq next January, relieving the II Marine Expeditionary Force by February, he told reporters at a breakfast briefing today in Washington. Creating properly trained Iraqi forces is...
