Commandos Graduate from Turkish-Georgian Program

Along with four commando battalions, trained under the US-funded Georgia Train-and-Equip Program, the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD) hopes that in several years it will have one more similar battalion, trained with assistance of the Turkish partners.

At the official ceremony on January 17, the MoD awarded certificates to 51 officers and sergeants, trained under commando training and education program. The program was launched in 1999 with participation of the Turkish side and already trained 121 Georgian military servicemen.

As Gela Bezhuashvili, Deputy Minister of Defense says, the MoD is forming a new 600 men special task group, which will consist of those, who graduated the joint Turkish-Georgian program. “This will be a group, capable to engage in small scale battles and provide adequate resistance against any enemy. We are working actively to form this group in the nearest future,” the Deputy Minister told Civil Georgia.

Lieutenant Temur Dzidziguri, Head of Kojori Training Center, who was among the first Georgian officers to undergo training under the Turkish program told Civil Georgia, that if all Georgian soldiers will, in the future, be trained similarly by the national cadre, “Georgia will have very strong and capable modern army” he says.

The training by the Turkish instructors started on July 30, 2002 at Kojori Training Center near Tbilisi, and lasted for 5 months.

51 officers and sergeants, who graduated the program, were selected out of 120. Majority of the trainees was dropped off due to poor physical fitness.

“We have selected the best men for the program indeed. They underwent very complex and difficult training and significantly improved physical conditions and tactical knowledge,” Joni Pirtskhalaishvili, Chief of Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces told Civil Georgia.

Biggest part of the training was conducted at the Kojori Center. The trainees also had a paratrooper training for three weeks at Kaiser Military Base in Turkey. Each one of them conducted at least 5 descents with parachute.

Turkey’s role in shaping the new Georgian army increases every year. Along with the training programs, the Turkish side also provides material assistance to the Georgian military system.

“We are neighbors. Turkey is interested in promoting peace in the region and strong army is essential for this goal. Besides, Turkey is also Georgia’s good friend and helps its friend to overcome all current difficulties,” Adnan Guler, Turkish military attaché to Georgia told Civil Georgia.

The Turkish-funded training course will last till 2006. By that time Georgia will have an additional well-trained commando battalion.

By Goga Chanadiri