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Air force celebrates anniversary
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The Georgian Air Forces celebrated their seventeenth anniversary in a solemn ceremony at the Alekseevka Military Airbase Sept. 19.
Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia and Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Air Forces Maj. Gen. Devi Chankotadze congratulated military personnel. Military attaches accredited to Georgia, military servicemen family members and other guests were present at the ceremony.
Akhalaia and Chankotadze decorated the memorial to the Georgian military with wreaths. Up to 26 servants were awarded with the medals of General Kvinitadze, General Mazniashvili and Devoted to the Homeland award. Roughly 75 servicemen were granted honorary diplomas and 74 notes of appreciation from their commanders.
Akhalaia delivered a speech at the event, stating that “aviation represents one of the important components of the armed forces. If we look back to the past years, we see that our aviation units were persistently improving and increasing their professionalism. Though Georgian aviation might not be perfect at the present moment and needs further development, we can say for sure that aviation is a valuable component for the army. This is why I am here to congratulate the entire army on this significant occasion.”
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Ministry exhibits successes, future plans
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Author: Nino Mikeladze
The ministry presented an annual report about its achievements and plans earlier this month. As part of the governmental initiative, a five-hour exhibition was held Sept. 5 on Rustaveli Avenue, as well as in various regions outside the capital.
The Defense Ministry presented various types of combat and medical equipment employed by the army. The military introduced tactical and technical specifications of weaponry. The training facilities of the armed forces’ Training and Military Education Command were also displayed. The exhibition also included a field hospital, tent for military personnel and kitchen, where visitors could try the food and rations prepared for soldiers under field conditions.
Important events ongoing within the armed forces and key defense priorities were presented to visitors in magazines, newspapers and advertisements. The NATO Information Center dispersed literature on the alliance together with free gifts and booklets.
Prime Minister Nika Gilauri and Cabinet of Ministers members also participated in the event. Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia and Chief of Joint Staff Major Gen. Devi Chankotadze answered questions from citizens. Akhalaia also spoke with journalists.
“This exhibition is a vivid demonstration of all the significant projects, implemented in recent years,” he said. “We also presented a number of measures to be realized in the future, concerning the modernization of the army. Our report covers all aspects of the working process executed by the ministry. Our officers are also here and can provide detailed answers about military activities to anyone who is interested.”
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“The program is a partnership requiring the full involvement and commitment of Georgia to succeed”
Interview with David Johnson, Acting Professional Development Program (PDP) Manager
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Author: Thea Chonishvili
The effective management of human resources and enhancing the professional skills of civilian officials is one of the main priorities of the Defense Ministry. Integration policy into NATO requires a rapid reformation process. The Professional Development Program launched in May 2009 aims to strengthen the capacity of democratic management and oversight of Georgia’s security sector and support objectives related to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
In mid-September, UK Special Defense Adviser to the Georgian Defense Ministry Stephen Glover and Acting Program Manager in the Georgian Defense Ministry David Johnson held the next round of seminars for ministry personnel. The seminars aimed to enhance the professional skills of ministry civilian personnel via courses, training and workshops at the ministry and a training center soon to open at the government agency.
Defense Today interviewed David Johnson, who elaborated on the importance of the program and future prospects of its implementation in Georgia.
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Georgia looks to establish professional NCO Corps
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Author: Eka Gakhokidze
The Non-Commissioned Officer Corps (NCO) is often referred to as “the backbone” of the armed services. NCOs are the primary and most visible leaders for the bulk of service personnel – the enlisted officers and military servants – as not a single commander has such close contact with corporals as NCOs. NCOs are the primary military leaders responsible for executing the military organization’s mission and training military personnel.
In the Georgian armed forces, the preparation of professional NCO is provided by the NCO School founded in 2003 in Gori. The school later moved from Gori to the Krtsanisi National Training Center. Since March 1, 2007, the school has been an independent military educational institution subordinate to the Educational Command of the Joint Staff.
At the first stage, the NCO School only provided training for section commanders. Today, the functions of the educational institution have considerably increased. According to the chief of the NCO School, Capt. Zurab Khvichia, the institution is responsible for training and retraining section commanders and platoon sergeants for military units. Three training courses are currently offered – a basic training course for section commanders of light infantry specialties, a platoon sergeants course and a transformation course for personnel who have not yet passed the needed training courses.
The school’s curriculum fully corresponds with NATO standards. The methodology and program is mainly German-based, but tailored to Georgian specifics and adjusted to the regulations of the Georgian armed forces. Students begin with theoretical training and then gain practical experience on the field. Future sergeants learn to assemble and disassemble a weapon. They also have a green season with day and night marches on various training grounds in Kojori, Krtsanisi and Shavnabada.
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Boland meets with defense minister
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Frank Boland, head of the Force Planning Directorate at the NATO headquarters, paid an official visit to Georgia. Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia hosted the high-ranking official at ministry.
Boland chaired the delegation of the NATO experts visiting Georgia.
Since 2003, top NATO officials have been in charge of the Force Planning Directorate at the Defense Policy and Planning Department. They take responsibility for conducting the force planning process, not only in the alliance member, but also in partner countries.
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Defense Ministry welcomes U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state
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In the framework of an introductory visit, U.S. European and Eurasian Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Tina Kaidanow visited the Defense Ministry earlier this month. Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, Deputy Minister Nikoloz Vashakidze and International Relations and Euro-Atlantic Integration Department head Marika Laliashvili hosted the high-ranking official.
Foreign guests representing the U.S. at the meeting were Defense Attache Col. Matthew Brand, Political and Economic Section Chief Julie Fisher and Charge d‘Affaires Kent Longsdon.
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U.S. experts visit Georgia
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High-ranking officials of the U.S. George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies visited Georgia earlier this month. The U.S. experts also visited the Defense Ministry.
The goal of the visit was to review issues of interdepartmental coordination in security sector management and national security revision.
At the meeting, the experts took an interest in the progress of the National Security Review defense sector, and studied local needs and capacities in this regard.
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German defense attache visits Kazbegi
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Author: Nino Gogochishvili
Two years have passed since German Defense Attache Lt. Col. Christian Farkhondeh began his work in Georgia. Farkhondeh is deeply involved in defense reforms in the country, and regularly attends every important event organized by the Defense Ministry.
Farkhonde is keen to learn about Georgian culture and nature, and spends his free time sightseeing throughout the country. The defence attache has stated his love of Georgian churches and mountainous regions. On Sept. 14, Farkhondeh visited Kazbegi Mountain.
“I was in Shatili, Mestia, and Ushguli, but to be on the top of Kazbegi was something very extraordinary. It was something special,” he said. He was accompanied by a diplomat and colleague from the police. They were led by two Georgian guides.
The trip continued for four days. Before the expedition, group members trained eight Sundays in various locations such as the Lomisi Monastery and mountains around Mtskheta and Tbilisi Lake.
The team started their expedition at Stephantsminda. Later, they took a horse for their luggage and moved to a camping site built by German prisoners after WWII. Before heading further up the mountain, the expedition members prayed in a small church.
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Military servicemen participate in harvest
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Georgian military servicemen participated in the crop harvesting process in the Kakheti region. The Tenth Cadre Brigade of the National Guard Department in Telavi spent their time picking grapes together with Telavi, Kvareli and Gurjaani citizens.
The Defense Ministry offered assistance to families who could not afford to hire the required labor to harvest their crops. The department and province representatives made a list of these families.
National Guard Department head Zurab Arsoshvili also took part in the harvest. He noted that the military servicemen will provide assistance to local residents until all the crops are gathered.
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Armed forces holds first wrestling competition
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Author: Tea Ivanishvili
The first wrestling tournament for Georgian armed forces members was held at the Joint Staff Sports Hall Sept. 24. Eighty-three soldiers in various weight categories participated in the competition. The goal of the event was to popularize wrestling in the armed forces.
Successful competitors received permission after the event to participate in other tournaments.
The tournament was organized by the Administrative Department’s Sports Service at the Joint Staff and Georgian National Wrestling Federation’s Sports and Youth Department. Servicemen showed immense interest in the competition.
“The popularization of the sport in the Georgian armed forces is one of the main priorities of the ministry,” Joint Staff Senior Sergeant Aluda Kopaliani said. “This day clearly demonstrates our approach to sports. Now, we are holding a wrestling tournament, but we are also going to organize competitions in other sports. Such competitions will help our soldiers to develop their physical fitness, which will help them better implement their military missions.”
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U.S. marines help disabled children
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The Martkopi Specialized Organization for People with Disabilities held a charity event to help disabled children Sept. 18 with Georgian military servicemen and the U.S. Marine Corps. The U.S. military personally offered their assistance to the organization during their visit to the country.
As Master Sgt. Brent L. Dorrough said, the goal of their visit was not only to train Georgian servicemen, but to help those in need.
“Helping mentally disabled children is a matter of dignity for all of us,” Dorrough said. “Alongside Georgian servicemen, there are U.S. Marines and Air Force and Fleet personnel, standing ready to work side-by-side. Today, instead of having a rest, we decided to come here and make our share of contribution voluntarily.”
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Saint Vakhtang Gorgasali Cathedral ground-laying ceremony held
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A new church is being constructed in remembrance of the soldiers who perished during the war last August. The foundation of the Saint Vakhtang Gorgasali Cathedral was first laid Sept. 15, where Archbishop Father Theodore consecrated the groundwork and held a public prayer.
Together with ecclesiastical figures, the ground-laying ceremony was attended by family members and relatives of deceased servicemen, Deputy Defense Minister Nika Dzimtseishvili, Georgian MPs and other officials.
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