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Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo, commanding general of international forces in southwestern Afghanistan, and Marine Expeditionary Brigade - Afghanistan.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Marine Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo is slated to be the last coalition commander in southwestern Afghanistan, an impoverished Taliban stronghold checkered with illicit poppy plots. The former head of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego took charge of Helmand and Nimruz provinces in February, at the helm of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan and NATOs regional command.

Now he is closing out an era of heavy combat in the region that began full-force for the Corps in 2009, when then-Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson deployed to Helmand with a brigade that earned a Presidential Unit Citation. Sometime toward the end of this year, Yoo will hand over Camp Bastion-Leatherneck to the 215th Afghan National Army Corps. Then he will fly back to Camp Pendleton with the last American combat troops.

U-T San Diego interviewed Yoo at his Helmand province headquarters about the Marine legacy in Afghanistan, shutting down the international war campaign, and prospects for stability. Excerpts edited for clarity and brevity follow.

Question: Youve been on the job here since February, from snowstorms to triple-digit summer heat. What were your first impressions?

Answer: It was surprising how kinetic (violent) it still was in some regards. And the political climate was very tense because of the Bilateral Security Agreement (the still unsigned contract permitting U.S. troops to stay past this year for training and counterterrorism purposes.) It put additional pressures on operational freedoms, because of the importance of avoiding civilian casualties. The third thing was how mature the 215th Afghan National Army Corps was as opposed to when I had seen them before. Starting with one brigade, and now a full corps.

Q: During my travels around the province I saw that Afghans are running military operations independently for the most part, with little shoulder-to-shoulder partnering with coalition forces.

A: The only people really doing partnered evolutions are special operations forces, and they are pushing toward independent ops. Everything we do now is periodic checks and things that will establish enduring Afghan security institutions.

Q: That means the Afghans will be largely on their own during the summer fighting season. Whats at stake for them?

A: This is a pivotal year. Because we are lifting off, because thats when the NATO mandate ends. Most importantly its the peaceful transition of power (after the presidential runoff election in June.) That will be a big indicator of where this country is going.

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Marine general talks Afghanistan