VAZIANI, Georgia -- Noble Partner 15, a 14-day training exercise with U.S. and Georgian forces, kicked off here May 11.
The opening ceremony proceeded in traditional military fashion with speeches from high-ranking military and government officials, national anthems of both countries and a static display of U.S. and Georgian combat vehicles behind the formation.
Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade's 'Sky Soldiers' parachuted into the ceremony from a U.S. Air Force C-130 J aircraft onto the runway where less than 300 meters away, guests watched closely.
"The name of today's exercise is not a coincidence," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark Loeben, the U.S. European Command's director of exercises and assessments. "The name 'Noble Partner' was deliberately chosen. It is a name that the Georgian armed forces have earned. It is a name that they demonstrate through every contribution, every commitment and every sacrifice. They have demonstrated time and again a level of commitment that is worthy of the exercise that we have named on their behalf, here today."
Noble Partner includes approximately 600 service members from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division; paratroopers from Troop C, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade; and Georgian soldiers assigned to Company A, 12th Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade, Georgian Land Forces.
Participants will use a full range of equipment, including the U.S. Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and several wheeled support vehicles. Georgian forces will operate alongside U.S. forces with their BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles.
"As my friend [Georgian] Maj. Gen. [Vakhtang] Kapanadze says, 'partnership is temporary', but after so many years or cooperation and working together, today's Georgian and U.S. military is more like a brotherhood that just a partnership," said Loeben.
One of the Georgian companies participating in Noble Partner is part of the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special operations components. This partnership enables the contributing members of the alliance to deploy quickly, wherever needed.
"Noble Partner is another step taken in the direction of strengthening our collaboration," said Tina Khidasheli, the newly elected Georgian defense minister. "The ongoing training will enable Georgia to strengthen its defense capabilities. It also will be an enabler for Georgia to get very quickly involved in NATO Reaction Force..."
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