2CR concludes AgS19 with cultural day

Photo By Staff Sgt. LaShic Patterson | U.S. Soldiers, assigned to the 2d Cavalry Regiment, spot the Monument of King Vakhtang Gorgasali at the Narikala Fortress surrounding the Mtkvari River for cultural day, concluding Agile Spirit 19 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Aug. 10, 2019. AgS19 is a cooperatively led exercise between the Georgian Defense Forces and U.S. Army Europe, designed to support theater security cooperation and training efforts among the 14 allies and partnering nations participating. The exercise is designed to improve joint and multinational readiness, interoperability, mobility and posture of combat credible forces across the European theater specifically in Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. LaShic Patterson)  

TBILISI, GEORGIA

08.19.2019

Story by Sgt. LaShic Patterson 

2d Cavalry Regiment

TBILISI, Georgia – U.S. Soldiers, assigned to the 2d Cavalry Regiment, concluded the multinational exercise, Agile Spirit 19, with a tour of the country’s capital for cultural day in Tbilisi, Georgia, Aug. 10, 2019.

AgS19 is a cooperatively led exercise between the Georgian Defense Forces and U.S. Army Europe, designed to support theater security cooperation and training efforts among the participating 14 allies and partnering nations.

Located by the Mtkvari River, Tbilisi offers its locals and tourists a multitude of historical sites to include monuments, parks, gardens, architecture and artwork infused and inspired by the Post-Impressionist, Gothic, Baroque and Modern eras in art.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. August Taddeo, 2d Squadron, 2CR, served as the planner for cultural day, providing Soldiers with a framework for their surroundings to extend beyond the AgS19 exercise.

“We agreed upon a cultural day at the main planning conference and, then, didn’t really discuss it, again, until the final planning conference,” said Taddeo.

“We came down to two options. Option one was to bring food, music and some other vendors to the Vaziani Training Area, so we could allow everyone to participate while trying to recover because we had such a short turn around to [return] everything to the port [at the conclusion of AgS19]. Option two was to bus everyone out to Tbilisi.”

Agreeing upon the second option in the end, transporting the Soldiers to the city that means warm in Georgian allowed for them to experience Georgian culture and hospitality. From the statues in honor of their history’s heroes to the whimsical Leaning Tower Clock in Tbilisi’s old town, each neighborhood mimics mosaic pockets of artwork, areas that Soldiers would otherwise not see if confined to VTA for the duration of the exercise according to Taddeo.

“I think cultural day allowed Soldiers to see the beauty of Georgia,” said Taddeo.

“It also raises awareness for the exercises; when Georgians see flocks of U.S. Soldiers enjoying Tbilisi, they are going to wonder what brought them all here. It lets them see our commitment to the partnership.”

• Date Taken: 08.19.2019
• Date Posted: 08.19.2019 05:52
• Story ID: 336385
• Location: TBILISI, GE