The Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) was an American-sponsored 18-month, $64-million program aimed at increasing the capabilities of the Georgianarmed forces by training and equipping four 600-man battalions with light weapons, vehicles and communications. The program enabled the US to expedite funding for the Georgian military for Operation Enduring Freedom.[1]
10th Special Forces Group soldier instructing Georgian troops on the dangers of conducting live-fire ambushes and maintaining muzzle control.
On 27 February 2002, the US media reported that the U.S. would send approximately two hundred United States Army Special Forces soldiers to Georgia to train Georgian troops.[2] The program implemented President Bush's decision to respond to the Government of Georgia's request for assistance to enhance its counter-terrorism capabilities and addressed the situation in the Pankisi Gorge. The program was planned to be a 20-month long, $64 million effort.[3]
The move drew protests from many Russians.[4] On 1 March 2002, in response to the domestic outcry, Russian president Vladimir Putin met with Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze in Kazakhstan and pledged his support for the American military initiative.[5]
The program began in May 2002 when American special forces soldiers of the 10th Special Forces Group began training select units of the Georgian Armed Forces, including the 12th Commando Light Infantry Battalion, the 16th Mountain-Infantry Battalion, the 13th "Shavnabada" Light Infantry Battalion, the 11th Light Infantry Battalion, a mechanized company, and small numbers of Interior Ministry troops and border guards.[6] The goal of the program was to boost the proficiency of Georgia's security forces in areas including border security, anti-terrorism, disaster response.[7]
Responsibility for training Georgian forces was eventually handed off to the U.S. Marine Corps in conjunction with the British Army. British and American teams worked as part of a joint effort to train each of the four infantry battalion staffs and their organic rifle companies. This training began with the individual soldier and continued through fire team, squad, platoon, company, and battalion level tactics as well as staff planning and organization. Upon completing training, each of the new Georgian infantry battalions began preparing for deployment rotations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.[8] As part of the program Georgian troops were issued new uniforms, boots, weapons, and other articles of equipment.[9]
^Near Abroad: Putin, the West and the Contest over Ukraine and the Caucasus - A Cause in the Caucasus- "Predictably the sight of U.S. soldiers (originally 10th Special Forces Group but later U.S. Marines tasked through European Command) training in Georgia caused an outcry in Russia among great power and revisionist factions"
^Liklikadze, Koba (10 September 2007). "Iraq: As Third-Largest Contingent, Georgia Hopes To Show Its Worth". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
georgia, train, equip, program, gtep, american, sponsored, month, million, program, aimed, increasing, capabilities, georgian, armed, forces, training, equipping, four, battalions, with, light, weapons, vehicles, communications, program, enabled, expedite, fun. The Georgia Train and Equip Program GTEP was an American sponsored 18 month 64 million program aimed at increasing the capabilities of the Georgian armed forces by training and equipping four 600 man battalions with light weapons vehicles and communications The program enabled the US to expedite funding for the Georgian military for Operation Enduring Freedom 1 10th Special Forces Group soldier instructing Georgian troops on the dangers of conducting live fire ambushes and maintaining muzzle control On 27 February 2002 the US media reported that the U S would send approximately two hundred United States Army Special Forces soldiers to Georgia to train Georgian troops 2 The program implemented President Bush s decision to respond to the Government of Georgia s request for assistance to enhance its counter terrorism capabilities and addressed the situation in the Pankisi Gorge The program was planned to be a 20 month long 64 million effort 3 The move drew protests from many Russians 4 On 1 March 2002 in response to the domestic outcry Russian president Vladimir Putin met with Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze in Kazakhstan and pledged his support for the American military initiative 5 The program began in May 2002 when American special forces soldiers of the 10th Special Forces Group began training select units of the Georgian Armed Forces including the 12th Commando Light Infantry Battalion the 16th Mountain Infantry Battalion the 13th Shavnabada Light Infantry Battalion the 11th Light Infantry Battalion a mechanized company and small numbers of Interior Ministry troops and border guards 6 The goal of the program was to boost the proficiency of Georgia s security forces in areas including border security anti terrorism disaster response 7 Responsibility for training Georgian forces was eventually handed off to the U S Marine Corps in conjunction with the British Army British and American teams worked as part of a joint effort to train each of the four infantry battalion staffs and their organic rifle companies This training began with the individual soldier and continued through fire team squad platoon company and battalion level tactics as well as staff planning and organization Upon completing training each of the new Georgian infantry battalions began preparing for deployment rotations in support of the Global War on Terrorism 8 As part of the program Georgian troops were issued new uniforms boots weapons and other articles of equipment 9 Although GTEP formally ended in April 2004 US military assistance to Georgia continued through the Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program Part of this program involved preparing Georgian units for operations in US led Multinational Force Iraq That program ended in September 2007 See also editSyrian Train and Equip ProgramReferences edit Helping Georgia Institute for the Study of Conflict Ideology and Policy Boston University March April 2002 Retrieved 14 February 2007 Associated Press 20 May 2002 Green Berets Land in Georgia For 2 Year Training Program The New York Times Retrieved 28 November 2018 Georgia Train and Equip Program GTEP https www globalsecurity org military ops gtep htm Near Abroad Putin the West and the Contest over Ukraine and the Caucasus A Cause in the Caucasus Predictably the sight of U S soldiers originally 10th Special Forces Group but later U S Marines tasked through European Command training in Georgia caused an outcry in Russia among great power and revisionist factions Putin would back U S led operation in Georgia Associated Press via Topeka Central Journal Saturday 2 March 2002 http cjonline com stories 030202 ter georgia shtml WlZzN1SnHcs Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003 US Department of State 29 April 2004 Retrieved 14 January 2007 State gov Georgia Train and Equip Program GTEP 1 February 2003 https 2001 2009 state gov r pa ei pix b eur 18737 htm Liklikadze Koba 10 September 2007 Iraq As Third Largest Contingent Georgia Hopes To Show Its Worth Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Retrieved 16 June 2013 GTEP Georgia Train and Equip https www youtube com watch v TuRwSqjhegkExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georgia Train and Equip Program http www defenselink mil releases release aspx releaseid 3326 original DOD press release http www globalsecurity org military ops gtep htm http www eucom mil directorates ecpa operations gtep englishproducts fact 5Fsheet5 htm amp 2 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Georgia Train and Equip Program amp oldid 1191168325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
