VAZIANI, Georgia -- One Georgian lieutenant had the opportunity to attend one of the most prestigious military academies in the world, the United States Military Academy at West Point. Now, he is bringing what he learned to his soldiers here who are training alongside their U.S. and United Kingdom brothers at Exercise Noble Partner 16.
Second Lt. Levan Lanchava, the 1st Platoon commander for Company A, 12th Battalion, 4th Mechanized Brigade, spent almost five years in the U.S. learning everything he could to develop himself as a leader.
Company A is also the only company of Georgian land forces that is part of the NATO Response Force or NRF. While Georgia is not a member of NATO, it and other NATO partners voluntarily contribute to the NRF. Noble Partner provides an opportunity to continue the U.S. training relationship with the Georgian Armed Forces as the sponsor of Georgia's participation in the NRF.
Not only is Lanchava a graduate of West Point, he also completed basic infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga., then moved on to the infamous Ranger school, graduating after completing the 61-day sequel.
Looking back, he remembers the strenuous application process that he began towards the end of 2010. Yet, within a couple a couple months, he remembers the call like it was yesterday.
"It was kind of unexpected," he said. "I was in the passenger seat going to college and the local [Office for Defense Cooperation] chief called me and I thought 'wow.'"
The process alone is not easy. Each applicant must be of good moral character, have an outstanding academic record, and have a Georgian government official sponsor. Additionally, basic requirements including passing medical requirements and a physical fitness test, an interview with a U.S. military officer from the ODC.
Additionally, Lanchava described the rush of seeing a new world as he got off the plane at the JFK Airport in New York.
"It was my first time stateside and it was different. I was greeted very warmly by my sponsor and his amazing family. I felt really good. The fist week before "R-day" at the academy, when you start as we call it, that first week was pretty sweet. I got to go to NYC and just trade around a bit and get accustomed to the local culture."
Unfortunately, that first week seemed to sweep past him as his first morning at West Point came about.
"R-day came and it was not fun anymore. You lose all of your privileges. I was a civilian and not in the Army so I was expecting it, but when you actually go through, it is not fun."
"You get yelled at, you have to do pushups, you have restrictions like cupping your hands, walking next to the wall doing 90-degree turns and chewing only five times before you can swallow."
Not only was Lanchava facing the wrath of the instructors, his English was not the best. While his classmates were struggling with coping to the new culture, he was additionally working hard just to communicate where he would spend the next four years of his life.
"Getting down some of the American phrases and working with academic English, it is different, Lanchava iterated. "Things that you studied here are not always enough to get you at that level, especially at a school like that."
After about six months English started developing into a true second language. By the end of the second year, it was smooth sailing.
Finally, May 28, 2014, came up on the calendar. Lanchava's days at the academy were finalized and he remembers graduation as his most memorable moment, as most any of us would.
"President Obama came out as a guest speaker. It was memorable and I got to shake his hand."
But, the fun was only beginning.
Moving onto spending the summer at Fort Benning, the next mission was completing infantry basic school, then moving on to Ranger school to earn the coveted 'Ranger' tab and tan beret.
"Of course, it is kind of a shock, despite being in the army for four years. I was really worried about getting through. I am not going to say it was easy, but once you get into the mode and once you are there you switch on your game face and you prove yourself."
Lanchava said that he had an advantage other international student did not have, though, brothers who had his back.
"It was different for me being an international. A lot of people, when they show up to Ranger school, they do not know anyone. It it was not like that for me because when I went I had [classmates from the academy] I knew, so that helped me out."
Fast forwarding to present, Lanchava explains how West Point, infantry school and Ranger school have helped him develop his Georgian soldiers as leaders here at Exercise Noble Partner 16.
"What I bring to the Georgian army is the knowledge, attitudes and skill sets that other U.S. officers have. I try to develop the people to my left and right, saying 'this is how the best Army in the world does it.'"
His skills are currently being put to the test at this year's Noble Partner exercise as he leads his platoon through the dozens of drills, operations and training scenarios designed to challenge and improve the soldiers and their leadership.
"What this training facilitates is not just professional growth for soldiers and officers, but also the establishment of those relationships. Also, when we go downrange, we show up and we already know how the U.S. military operates and they know how the Georgian military operates. [This exercise] facilitates interoperability and it's great for building relationships.
Lanchava wanted to ensure his friends from the U.S., now scattered around the world, know he appreciates everything and that distance does not determine the extended families that people create.
"To all my friends working in Europe and Korea right now and also stateside, I just want to say 'Hi' and I hope to see you soon," he said.
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