Subscribe
KRTSANISI NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Republic of Georgia – Marines and Sailors from Georgia Training Team, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, are nearing the end of their six month deployment supporting the Georgia Deployment Program- International Security Assistance Force. They are the final GTT to train a Battalion from the Georgian Armed Forces to support the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
Combat operations will conclude in Afghanistan later this year, and the mission will transition from ISAF to Resolute Support Mission. The RSM will focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces marking the beginning of a new chapter in ensuring that stability and security returns to the region.
Lt. Col. Guillermo Rosales, the GTT officer in charge, said a priority for his Marines is to maximize their free time by participating in community engagements with local organizations and to demonstrate Marine capabilities are not limited to training a battalion for combat operations.
“Through involvement with a number of programs and organizations the Marines have accomplished far more than just advising Georgian soldiers throughout their deployment,” said Capt. Kurt Prill, communications officer and Public Affairs representative for the GTT. “Our goal was to engage the population, but also to demonstrate our partnership with Georgia extends to far more than just military operations and training.”
The Marines of the GTT partnered directly with numerous Georgian organizations such as the Georgian Armed Forces Wounded Warrior Program and KERA Woman and Baby Shelter throughout the year with facility renovations, cultural education programs and orphanage visits.
“The Georgians have been very appreciative and impressed with the hard work the Marines have done to help other Georgians. The shelter renovations would not have been possible without the hard work of the Marines. I am excited to welcome new mothers this fall into our renovated shelter,” said Yulia Maraskhvilli, the director for KERA Woman and Baby Shelter.
Additionally, the Marines supported the Handicapped Children's House in Kodjori, the Day School, Infant House, Salvation Army in Tbilisi, and the Makhinjauri Orphanage in Batumi through the donation of nearly 1000 items of clothing, toys, school and hygiene supplies.
The Marines provided more than 750 hours of community engagement across more than 26 events with over a 90 percent participation rate by the Marines. It is clear that the Marines have worked hard and have stayed engaged with the community throughout their deployment.
Through the GDP-I program, the Georgian Armed Forces and U.S. Marines have trained 14 Georgian Battalions to deploy in support of the ISAF mission. With full battalions working alongside U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan, the Georgian Armed Forces is the largest non-NATO troop-contributor to the ISAF mission. The US and Georgian partnership will continue through the end of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2014 08:38 |
| Story ID: | 144462 |
| Location: | TBILISI, GE |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Final GDP-ISAF Rotation Redeploys Following Successful Partnership with Georgian Armed Forces, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT