Georgia is hosting armed forces from four partner nations for the fifth iteration of the biannual exercise Noble Partner.
The exercise, cooperatively led by the Georgian Defense Force and US Army Europe, kicked off at Vaziani Training Area on September 7.
Countries participating in this year’s exercise include France, Georgia, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Active duty US Army units training in the exercise include the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 12th and 101st Combat Aviation Brigades, and 18th Military Police Brigade during Noble Partner.
Components from the Georgia National Guard in the exercise include the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 78th Troop Command, 78th Aviation Troop Command, and 165th Airlift Wing.
This year’s training will include mechanized infantry maneuvers, helicopter attack and medical evacuation operations with rotor-wing aircraft, and a culminating combined arms live-fire exercise that integrates all participating forces.
“This exercise is an incredible display of commitment of cooperation between the United States and Georgia and between Georgia and NATO,” said US Army Col. Stephanie Bagley, Defense Attaché to Georgia. “It is an opportunity to hone our skills to work together as a coalition, to enhance interoperability, as well as to show our future cooperation.”
The Georgia National Guard and country of Georgia became partners under the State Partnership Program in October 1994. The program’s first partnerships began in 1993, and the agreement between both Georgias is the 17th agreement in the program’s history.
“This exercise emphasizes interoperability and coordination with our partnered nations and our defense forces, strengthens our military readiness and defense capabilities to build trust, cooperation and friendship,” said Brig. Gen. Irakli Chichinadze, Georgian deputy chief of defense forces. “I’d like to express my appreciation to our many partners.”
