Georgia Among Top Recipients of U.S. Military Financing
U.S. General James Jones, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of the United States European Command said while speaking at the hearing of the U.S. Senate?s Committee on Armed Services on March 1 that Georgia is among top recipients of the U.S. military assistance.
?Poland, Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria are among our top FMF [Foreign Military Financing] recipients and all are effectively serving beside our forces in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,? Gen. Jones said.
FMF provides resources to assist nations without the financial means to acquire U.S. military equipment and training. In 2005 the United States launched new assistance program for the Georgian troops – Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program, in which the U.S. allocated more than USD 60 million.
?In Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program (SSOP) is geared to training two peacekeeping battalions for service in Iraq? SSOP will also provide the country with the trained cadre of trainers and staff to support additional sustainment of personnel and peacekeeping units. Finally, the SSOP will help solidify the progress made during the Georgia Train and Equip program [GTEP] and continue to assist in the implementation of western standards in the Georgian armed forces,? Gen. Jones said.
