121st Infantry Regiment during opening ceremony in Tblisi

WASHINGTON , July 27, 2008 – A training exercise in the country of Georgia is helping Georgia National Guardsmen and soldiers from other partner nations overcome language and cultural barriers to work together more effectively in combat situations.

Exercise Immediate Response 2008, which concluded in July outside Tblisi , Georgia , united forces not only from the “ Peach State ” but those of other nations to participate in small arms, combat lifesaver, and situational training exercises. Beside the United States , and the host nation, other countries participating included Ukraine , Azerbaijan , and Armenia .

“The overall purpose of the operation is to build cooperation in the region and teach everyone involved how to work better with their coalition partners,” said Georgia Guard Maj. Matthew Smith, commander 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment.

The 121st Infantry Regiment returned to Atlanta in early August. The experience further prepared the unit for its scheduled deployment to Afghanistan next year, Smith said.

“We’re basically focused on getting ready to go to Afghanistan ,” he said. “So, we’re focused at the fire-team level and just trying to get the…foundation built, if you will, for upcoming stuff that will take place over the next year. We use contemporary operating environment scenarios, in which Soldiers might encounter improvised explosives (or) conduct some sort of civic engagement with a mayor or other leader,” he added.

Counterparts from different nations work together during the exercises, which Smith said is strengthening the relationships among coalition partners and proving to be valuable practice working through language barriers.

“It’s been great watching these teams develop,” Smith said. “After just a couple days, they’re up and running, looking like they’ve been training together for several years (and) learning from each other both tactically (and) culturally.”

For example, he said Georgian and U.S. soldiers were teamed in combat training for engaging targets and basic medical skills for sustaining life until medical treatment arrives.

“One of the most amazing things that I saw was just watching the soldiers figure out how to communicate, regardless of the presence of an interpreter,” he said.

Smith said the language barrier actually added value to the training experience for his battalion. “It exposed some of our own challenges in dealing with another force besides English-speaking forces, which our battalion will likely have to do downrange,” he said.

“Another aspect of it was that Georgians, when they’re operating as part of the coalition in Iraq , will be dealing with American soldiers on a daily basis,” Smith added. “So, I think just across the board, it helps strengthen both parties for future operations.”

“I think no matter where we as U.S. forces go in the world, we’re going to have to learn to work better with other forces, who may not share our language or culture,” Smith said. “And this has been great preparation for that – great preparation for the battalion’s mission to Afghanistan next year.”

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