Mission Rehearsal Exercise prepares Georgian troops for deployment

By Spc. Audrequez Evans, Joint Multinational Readiness Center Public AffairsOctober 18, 2019

Georgian soldiers responding to attack
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mr. Irakli Garibashvili, Minister of Defense of Georgia, Lt. Gen. Vladimer Chachibaia, Chief of the Georgian Defense Forces and Brig. Gen. Alexander Kiknadze, Commander of East Command of Land Forces are among the distinguished visitors who observed ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Opposing forces waiting in the shadows
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Moving simulated injured soldiers off the battlefield
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Calling in for support
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HOHENFELS, Germany- The 12th Georgian Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Giga Dzhincharadze took part in training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany during the Georgian Mission Rehearsal Exercise. The exercise consists of two weeks of training including improvised explosive device reaction and key leader engagements.

According to Dzhincharadze, this training exercise is very important because the exercise gives them real world insight on how the pieces work as far as key leader engagements, interoperability and media relations as whole prior to their deployment.

"I have participated in many international training exercises, but I think the involvement of the media, local population and international organizations are higher than the rest" said Dzhincharadze.

The exercise, which is led by the U.S. Marine Corps and involves nearly 900 Georgian soldiers and Marines, drew the attention of several high ranking Georgians such as Mr. Irakli Garibashvili, Minister of Defense of Georgia, Lt. Gen. Vladimer Chachibaia, Chief of the Georgian Defense Forces and Brig. Gen. Alexander Kiknadze, Commander of East Command of Land Forces. The distinguished visitors had an opportunity to observe their forces reacting to a simulated vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack. This type of training is one way the Joint Multinational Readiness Center strives to provide scenarios as close to real world as possible and challenge units.

"One of the biggest challenges here is the communication, relation and engagement with local population, as well as escalation of forces which is a new thing for our soldiers and it's always changing" said Dzhincharadze.

With this year's Georgia Mission Rehearsal Exercise winding down, the 12th Georgian Infantry Battalion is preparing for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Resolute Support.