Canadian military personnel have officially taken over the training of Afghan National Army soldiers -- a task that will eventually become a key component of any exit strategy.

"This is essential for our eventual exit out of here," Lt.-Col. Wayne Eyre, the commander of the Operational Mentoring and Liason Team, told CTV News.

"We have to get the Afghan National Army up to a point where it can conduct security operations by themselves."

For now, the Canadian military is committed to the Afghanistan mission until 2009.

The Afghan soldiers, operating in Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces, were previously being trained by the United States.

The official transfer to Canadian forces took place Tuesday morning in a ceremony at Kandahar airfield, where a formation of soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the Afghan National Army's 205 Corps saluted as they were flanked by Canadian and American counterparts.

About 100 Canadian senior military professionals will act as mentors, teaching Afghan soldiers discipline, how to engage in combat, and how to operate as a large-sized army.

The Canadian mentors will attempt to build on the reported progress made by the U.S. military.

Eyre, who takes over the authority for the training, told The Canadian Press that Afghan commanders understand the importance of winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

The program's deputy commander, Maj. Peter Sullivan, told CP that Canadian values and human rights are important components of the training that the soldiers will receive.

Still, there are numerous difficulties that Afghan soldiers face. They include negotiating between different ethnic groups, access to communications equipment and the air power needed to co-ordinate attacks.

"We dream of being able to protect our country ourselves... but we don't have enough experience or good equipment such as an air force," one Afghan captain told CTV News.

Canadian commanders won't say when they think Afghan troops can stand on their own. But they stress the improvement in just one year of informal training has been remarkable.

"This is an organization that has positive momentum," said Eyre. "It's getting better and better and will continue to do so. This is indicative of the future of Afghanistan, this war is winnable."

With a report from CTV's Steve Chao and files from The Canadian Press