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Afghan War News >
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Georgia
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Georgia has been participating in the International Security
Force Assistance (ISAF) in Afghanistan for a number of years
providing troops for Regional Command Southwest and other
locations in Afghanistan.
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Georgian Army Mission Ends in RC South
and Southwest
On July 15, 2014 the Georgian Army ended its
mission in Regional Command Southwest. in October 2014 the Georgian
Special Mountain Battalion completed its seven-month long deployment in
Regional Command South. The Repubic of Georgia sent its
first troops in September 2004. In total, Georgia lost 29 soldiers killed
in action with over 400 soldiers wounded. 3.
Georgia Training for Deployments
The Georgian military has provided a consistent
troop presence in Afghanistan. Their predeployment training is extensive
with the culminating event a MRX at JMRC at Hohenfels, Germany. The US
Marines provide liaison and training assistance to ensure their deployment
to RC Southwest goes smoothly.
GDP-ISAF. The Georgia Deployment Program is run by
(lead component) the United States Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa
with assistance from the Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group MCSCG).
The MCSCG also executes security cooperation engagement planning,
education and training, and advisory support for GLTs and GTTs. The
Georgians have been training with the Marines as part of the Georgia
Deployment Program since 2009.
The GDP consists of six-month training programs to
train the Georgian military units in counterinsurgency tactics, techniques
and procedures. The training is designed to support training at all levels
from basic first aid to the more advanced battalion staff-level procedures
and functions. At the end of the six-month training program the Georgian
units head to the Joint Multinational Training Center (JMTC) in Germany
for additional training and a Mission Readiness Exercise (MRX).
The United States has a history of providing
training to the Georgia military. In 2002 the U.S. sponsored the
Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) which cost $64 million and
trained and equipped four 600-man battalions with weapons, vehicles, and
communications equipment. 1.
In 2005-2006 the Georgia Sustainment and
Stability Operations Program (GSSOP) provided the ability of the
Georgian military to assist in
Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF).
U.S. Army
Special Forces and U.S. Marines conducted the training.
2.
2014. The Georgian 51st Light Infantry Battalion
arrived at Bagram Air Field (BAF) in November of 2014 to perform the
duties of force protection.
2015. A reconnaissance company from the 4th
Mechanized Brigade served as the rapid reaction force for the Train Advise
and Assist Command - North (TAAC-North) at Camp Marmal in northern
Afghanistan.
Upcoming, Current, and Past Georgia
Military Deployments
2014. 51st Battalion, 5th Infantry Brigade.
2014. Georgia Special Mountain and 23rd Light
Infantry Battalions.
2013. Georgia 31st Light Infantry Battalion.
2014. Georgia 51st Light Infantry Battalion.
2015. Georgia 43rd
Infantry Battalion.
Websites with Info on Georgia in
Afghanistan
CIA World Fact Book on Georgia
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gg.html
Democratic Republic of Georgia by Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Georgia
Georgian Armed Forces by Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Armed_Forces
Special Forces Brigade of Georgia by Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Brigade_of_Georgia
Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group - Tag:
23rd Light Infantry Battalion
www.mcscg.marines.mil/News/. . ./23rd-light-infantry-battalion.aspx
Papers and Publications on the Georgian
Military
Areshidze, Irakly G. "Helping Georgia?",
Perspective, Volumne XII, Number 4, Boston University, March-April
2002. Paper explores the impact on U.S. military training assistance to
Georgia.
www.bu.edu/iscip/vol12/areshidze.html
Nadirashvili, Zakaria V. Georgian Light
Infantry Battalions in the Global War on Terrorism, a thesis for
Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 2005.
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA437043
Videos about
Georgia in Afghanistan
December 17, 2017. Georgian Ranger Company
Keeps RS HQ Safe Day and Night, Resolute Support HQs, YouTube.com, 1
min long.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7thNZdnjNvc
News and Magazine Articles and Blog
Posts on Georgia in Afghanistan
December 11, 2019.
"Afghan blast kill one, injure scores in attack on key U.S. military base",
Reuters. Five Georgian soldiers were killed when two vehicles
with explosives were used against the southern entrance to Bagram Air
Base.
November 18, 2015.
"Marine unit in Afghanistan works alongside Georgians", DVIDS.
October 1, 2015.
"Georgians in Afghanistan Defending Their Country".
Georgia Today.
An explanation of why Georgia is in the country of Afghanistan.
April 18, 2015.
"Georgian Chief of Defense visits Resolute Support Headquarters". RS
News. Currently, spring 2015, Georgia is the second largest contributor of
troops to the RS mission in Afghanistan.
March 26, 2015.
"Farewell Ceremony of 43rd Battalion in Vaziani".
The Messenger
Online. The Georgian battalion will deploy to Afghanistan for a
six-month long deployment where it will be responsible for security of
Bagram Air Field.
March 6, 2015.
"Humanitarian Mission in village of Musa Bala".
The Messenger
Online. The 51st Battalion provided humanitarian assistance to a
village in their operational area.
March 1, 2015.
"Marines continue fighting alongside Georgians in Afghanistan".
Marine Corps Times. A small group of U.S. Marines continue to engage
in 'operations' in Afghansitan alongside members of the Georgian military.
February 20, 2015.
"Exercise". The 43rd Georgian Infantry Battalion trains at Joint
Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany in preparation
for their upcoming Afghan deployment.
January 10, 2015.
"Georgia's
military chief holds top meetings in Afghanistan".
Agenda.ge.
December 16, 2014.
"Georgian Troops Head to Mazar-i-Sharif". Civil.ge. A reconnaissance
company of the 4th Mechanized Brigade will provide the rapid reaction
force to TAAC-North.
November 24, 2014.
"Georgia Promised Eventual NATO Admission", Silk Road Reporters.
A consistent and reliable partner in Afghanistan gets rewarded?
November 3, 2014.
"1st Battalion, 320th FA Regiment transfers security of BAF to Georgian
51st Light Infantry". The Georgian Army unit will be responsible for
base security at Bagram Air Field and work with their ANSF partners.
DVIDS.
November 3, 2014.
"Georgian Special Mountain Battalion ends Afghan mission with ceremony".
DVIDS. The Georgian's mission was force protection throughout Regional
Command South's (now TAAC South) area in Kandahar, Uruzgan, and Zabul
provinces.
April 25, 2014.
"Georgian Liaison Team, 31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion and conduct
air raid with Afghan National Army soldiers". DVIDS.
Operation in Helmand province.
March 20, 2014.
"Georgian President visits Georgian Infantry Battalion, Marines aboard
Camp Leatherneck". Marines.mil. Members of the 31st Light Infantry
Battalion (Georgia) and the Marines of Georgian Liaison Team 11 received a
visit form the president of Georgia.
March 7, 2014.
"Republic of Georgia troops train alongside Marines during rehearsal
exercise". DVIDS.
U.S. Marines and two battalions conduct an MRE prior to the Georgian
deployment to Afghanistan.
February 24, 2014.
"31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion - Helmand Province".
Afghan War News Blog. The Georgian Bn is on their third Afghan tour.
February 23, 2014.
"Republic of Georgia soldiers conduct cordon and search during rehearsal
exercise". DVIDS. Soldiers from the Georgian Special Mountain
Battalion conducted training at the joint Multinational Readiness Center
(JMRC) at Hohenfels, Germany.
February 19, 2012.
"Georgian forces remain vigilant when under siege of insurgent bombardment
during readiness exercise". DVIDS. Members of the 23rd Light Infantry
Battlion train at JMRC in Hohenfels, Germany.
September 1, 2011.
"Tenth
Georgia Soldier Killed in Afghanistan". Civil.ge. Soldier was a member
of the 33rd Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Brigade.
June 3, 2011.
"Georgia Mulls Sending More Troops to Afghanistan". Civil.ge.
April 29, 2002.
"Georgia "Train and Equip" Program Begins". DoD News Release.
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Endnotes
1.
Read more on GTEP at Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Train_and_Equip_Program
2. Read more on GSSOP at Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Sustainment_and_Stability_Operations_Program
3. See "Georgian Army ends mission in Helmand", ISAF, July 16, 2014.
www.isaf.nato.int/article/news/georgian-army-ends-mission-in-helmand.html
4. Read about
driver training for the GDP-RSM project in a contract announcement by
GovTribe.com, December 22, 2015.
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