Agile Spirit’s Fourth iteration indicative of U.S., Georgian commitments

Photo By Tatum Vayavananda | A range-safety officer from the Georgian Armed Forces demonstrates a burpee to Georgian soldiers before a “stress shoot,” a combat-marksmanship range that tests accuracy after a high-intensity metabolic workout circuit as part of the fourth iteration of exercise Agile Spirit. Agile Spirit 14 is an annually-scheduled multilateral engagement hosted by the Caucasus country that began in 2011 to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries by conducting brigade and battalion-level training engagements, to include small-unit interaction between the Marines and Georgians that demonstrates their commitments toward collective, global security.  

VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, GEORGIA

06.10.2014

Story by Sgt. Tatum Vayavananda 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, Republic of Georgia -- Indicative of their commitments to global security, U.S. Marines and the Georgian Armed Forces are demonstrating their continued progress toward collective security with the fourth iteration of exercise Agile Spirit.

Agile Spirit 14 is an annually-scheduled multilateral engagement hosted by the Caucasus country that began in 2011 to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“Georgia has been one of the most significant contributors to coalition efforts in the International Security Assistance Force and, over the course of the next two weeks, Agile Spirit will support Georgia’s contribution to the ISAF mission,” said Col. Ryan Heritage, commanding officer of 6th Marine Regiment.

During the exercise, interoperability between the two nations’ forces will be emphasized by conducting brigade and battalion-level training engagements, to include small-unit interaction between the Marines and Georgians, transitioning from counterinsurgency operations to peacekeeping operations.

Training engagements will include basic-infantry skills, search-and-control packages, detecting IEDs, live-fire small-arms ranges, convoy operations, and artillery ranges with more than 250 Marines and 550 Georgian soldiers, concluding on June 21.

“We look forward to continuing to work together and prepare our forces for future coalition efforts by continuously improving the capability of our armed forces to collectively conduct the full spectrum of military operations,” said Heritage.

For the event, personnel from Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and France will be present as military observers. Building upon the participants of the exercise will promote the growth of partnerships between countries bordering the Black Sea.

Marines and sailors of Black Sea Rotational Force 14, from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, flew from Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, to support the exercise. Supporting units from 2nd Marine Division, 6th Marine Regiment, and Marine Forces Europe and Africa will participate in the exercise as well as the 42nd Battalion of the IV Mechanized Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces.

“Agile Spirit will certainly help to promote regional cooperation and foster further interoperability,” Heritage added.

The Republic of Georgia’s commitment to collective, global security also includes the Georgia Deployment Program-ISAF; through the seven-year-old program, Georgian battalions have trained with U.S. Marines to serve alongside coalition partners in Afghanistan and other international contingency operations.

Scheduled military engagements like Agile Spirit will continue throughout the U.S. European Command area-of-responsibility to bolster partner-nation and allied capacity and build the shared interest for regional and global stability.

“I want to thank [the Georgians] for [their] hospitality in hosting this exercise and know that we are committed to our partners and stand with you in maintaining a Europe that is safe, secure and prosperous.”

• Date Taken: 06.10.2014
• Date Posted: 06.10.2014 14:56
• Story ID: 132697
• Location: VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, GE