About 300 Marines are preparing to train Afghan troops and national police in marksmanship, indirect fire and small-unit tactics when they deploy to Helmand province this spring, officials said. 

According to the Marine Corps Times, the Marines will train Afghans at the battalion-level while advising and assisting at the brigade and division level.

Maj. Kendra N. Motz, spokeswoman for the task force, said the Marines are familiarizing themselves with Russian-made weapons, including the AK-47, PKM, DShK and RPG-7 ahead of their deployment.

The task force consists of experienced, senior Marines, many of whom have deployed to Afghanistan before, said Col. Matthew Reid, Task Force Southwest’s deputy commander. 

“Make no mistake: Though we are no longer in a combat role in Afghanistan, it is still a combat environment,” Reid said. “As Marines, we train and deploy with a combat mindset.”

This comes amid an upsurge in attacks in the province in the past year.