On November 23rd, 2005, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the approval for the creation of the Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC), and on February 24th, 2006, MARSOC was officially established. Under the leadership of Brigadier General Dennis J. Hejlik, MARSOC was built from the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (4th MEB), the Foreign Military Training Unit (FMTU), and 1st and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Companies. FMTU became the Marine Special Operations Advisor Group (MSOAG), with missions in Africa and South America. 1st and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Companies became 1st and 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalions (MSOB) and were tasked with providing support to Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan. In January, 2007, the Marine Special Operations Support Group was activated with MARSOC personnel deployed in Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) and Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC) formations in South America, Africa, and Afghanistan.