Georgian 31st light infantry battalion returns to Afghanistan - © Mod.gov.Ge 2011

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Georgian Peacekeeping Mission

The 31st light infantry battalion of the Georgian armed forces composed of 749 military servants is leaving for Afghanistan. They will take part in the NATO-led ISAF operation. The Georgian peacekeeping battalion will be engaged in the international security mission in the province of Helmand as part of the US military contingent. During 6 months they will be involved in the counterinsurgency operations side by side with the US marines.

The farewell ceremony has been held today at the Vaziani military base. Among the guests attending the event were Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia, Chief of the Joint Staff of GAF Major-General Devi Chankotadze, top brass of MoD and armed forces, as well as foreign ambassadors and military attaches accredited in Georgia. The Georgian soldiers were accompanied on their way to Afghanistan by the NATO delegation members led by Director of Force Planning, NATO Defence Policy and Planning Directorate Frank Boland.

Since April of 2010, the 31st infantry battalion of III infantry brigade consisting of 749 servicemen has been deployed in the province of Helmand, the south of Afghanistan, to perform a wide-range of operations under the support of the US forces. The 31st battalion was rotated by the 32nd battalion of III Infantry brigade in November 2010. Since April of 2011 the 33rd battalion has been fulfilling the mission. Now again the 31st light infantry battalion will be stationed in Afghanistan to replace 33rd battalion.

It is already a second rotation for the 31st battalion personel, who are characterized with a high level of combat preparation and experience. The battalion has undergone 6 month-long intensive training course getting ready for participation in the ISAF operation ongoing under the aegis of NATO. The Georgian soldiers were trained by the command of Trainers and Advisors Group of the US marines. They were instructed in defence, searching, cordon, convoy, evacuation operations as well as in skills of communication with leaders and population they will have to interact with during the mission.

The military unit underwent a special preparation on the bases of Vaziani and Krtsanisi Training centers. The battalion personnel were prepared in the German town of Hohenfelse in the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC). The level of training of the Georgian peacekeepers to perform the concrete tasks was positively assessed both by the Center's experts and Trainers and Advisors` Group of the US marines.

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[Erniz2]

God bless Sakartvelo!

[daticco]

I am so honored as Georgian American that my brothers will fight alongside eachother in order to bring peace and freedom from taliban to Afghan people...