Military Advisor Team III

Sienna Nichole Siracusa, daughter of Maj. Vincent Siracusa Jr., follows her father's example and salutes during the national anthem during the welcome home ceremony for the Military Advisor Team III who returned after a year-long deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan July 22, 2013, to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. MATs are small teams of officers and noncommissioned officers whose primary tasks are to coach, teach and mentor Afghan National Army units; provide the conduit for liaison and command and control; and support the operational planning and employment of the ANA. The New Jersey Army National Guard creates joint MATs with the Albanian Armed Forces. The MATs build on state partnership relationships with the Republic of Albania in order to demonstrate commitment and strengthen the alliance with Albania enabling them to contribute to future NATO missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)