U.S. Marines and Georgian soldiers complete training

Photo By Sgt. Calvin Shamoon | Soldiers from the 43rd Georgian Infantry Battalion post security as another soldier attends to a simulated casualty during the Mission Rehearsal Exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 22. The Mission Rehearsal Exercise is a month-long culminating event in which soldiers from the 43rd Georgian Infantry Battalion are tested in their abilities before being deployed to Afghanistan.  

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

03.03.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Calvin Shamoon 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

HOHENFELS, Germany – Georgian soldiers and U.S. Marines completed their Mission Rehearsal Exercise with a final mission in a simulated Afghan village, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 26. The MRE concluded at the Salaam Bazar, which Georgians called “Operation Mgheli”.

“What the MRE is designed to do is put the Georgians in an environment where they deal with civilians in the battlespace while having a living, breathing enemy in the form of the OPFOR (opposing forces) that’s working against them,” said Maj. James Geiger, the officer in charge of the Georgia Liaison Team. “The Georgians also have a higher headquarters that they have to interact with and make sure all their procedures are correct.”

Upon completion of the final portion of the MRE, the Marines embedded with the 43rd Georgian Infantry Battalion will make final preparations before deploying to Afghanistan.

The training events include close air support training where U.S. Marines and Georgian troops communicate with another to coordinate the use of air evacuation and strikes on the enemy targets. The second portion is the situational training exercise.

Georgian troops patrol through simulated Afghan villages, talked to actors role-playing key leaders and village elders to support regional security, receive intelligence on enemy and provide humanitarian aid.

The Georgian battalion engaged in a six-day event where they complete operations with minimal support from the training teams. Georgian soldiers and U.S. Marines must integrate and face challenges replicating what they may face during their deployment to Afghanistan. During the MRE, the forward operating base simulates Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, to include a bazar within the base.

For the six-day event of the MRE, the Georgian soldiers alongside U.S. Marines have to make sure the Afghan role-players are supportive of their presence and ensure villagers are willing to cooperate with the troops.

I think the relationship is very positive, I feel we built a level of trust where we can be open with each other and we can discuss what we are doing well and where we need to improve, said Geiger.

The Georgian troops also received support from Moldovan soldiers who are replicating Afghan National Army and Afghan Police Force. The forces work together to ensure prosperity and stability in the region.

“I’ve seen dramatic improvement,” said Geiger. “Where they have bloomed, it has really been here at the MRE they’ve shown significant improvement in my opinion.”

The Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group trains the Georgia Training Team and the GLT in cultural emersion, basic foreign language and foreign weapon systems.

At our home station we did all of our annual training, marksmanship and basic combat skills, but we could not get the advisor training that MCSCG specializes in, said Geiger. The Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group prepared us for this deployment.

The Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group provides logistics, communication and operational support throughout the exercise. Marine Forces Europe oversees the Georgia Deployment Program while MCSCG handles the MRE and ensures its success.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2015
• Date Posted: 03.03.2015 09:47
• Story ID: 155777
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE
• Hometown: FAYETTEVILLE, NC, US