Lt. Col. Lasha Davitadze, 43rd Infantry Battalion Commander, Georgian Defense Forces
“Friendship as the Most Effective War Fighting Function”
On February 5th, 2018 I received a call telling me that I was selected to take command of the 43rd light infantry battalion. Moreover, the battalion was selected to participate in the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission under the U.S. command in Afghanistan. It was a great honor and a privilege for me, especially considering the fact that Georgian battalions were deployed together with Georgian Liaison Teams (GLT) consisting of 60 U.S. Marines.
It is well known that Georgia joined the mission in Afghanistan in 2004. Georgian forces worked with NATO in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. In 2009, the Georgian Ministry of Defense agreed to contribute an infantry battalion to serve under the United States supporting NATO. In order to prepare the Georgian units for deployments, U.S. Marine Corps Europe began a training program called the Georgian Deployment Program.
The Resolute Support mission was a follow-on task to the ISAF mission, to which Georgia contributed about 750 troops. Georgian forces alongside the U.S. Marines have been participating in Resolute Support in Afghanistan since 2015. It is a great honor to serve shoulder-to-shoulder with the brave U.S. Marines in one of the most troubled regions of Afghanistan in order to ensure and maintain peace and stability in the complex security environment of the 21st century.
The pre-deployment training of the 43rd battalion has started in Georgia. In the early phase of the training 60 Marines joined our battalion in training. “Our battalion” is the exact term to describe it. From day one, Georgians and Marines became one team, one unit. To be more specific, there was no distinction between Georgian soldiers and the U.S. Marines. We became one unit as a whole. It was truly impressive how far we have come together as a team. Pre-deployment training that we underwent in Georgia and Germany was a great equalizer that contributed significantly to the strong friendship among Marines and Georgians in the battalion.
Lt. Col. Jerry Kleber, a commanding officer of the U.S. Marines, was my counterpart in this deployment. He is an officer of immense dignity, a role model, and a great leader. I am fortunate to call him my friend and my brother. In fact, our personal relationship and friendship set a great example and tone throughout our unit. I point out with pride that I, as a U.S. Marine Corps University Command and Staff College graduate, was like a fish in the water among my fellow Marines. We quickly became a cohesive, well-organized, well-trained, and disciplined warfighting organization that could successfully accomplish all tasks. It cannot be stressed enough that the personal relationships and friendship between Marines and Georgians became a “steppingstone” to the successful accomplishment of the mission.
“What Right Looks Like”
The best testament of our friendship and cooperation was the sacrifice that I saw on the patrol missions that Georgians and Marines have always conducted together. The way Marines took care of Georgians and how Georgians took care of Marines was an amazing thing to experience, which gave Jerry and me a huge sense of pride. The Protectors of Bagram: That was the name given to us as a gesture of appreciation. The combined motto of our unit was “Only United We Win!” General Brian Wolford, Commander of the Bagram Air Base, described our friendship, sacrifice, cooperation, and partnership fighting for stability in Afghanistan with the memorable phrase, “What Right Looks Like.” The next rotation of forces into Bagram, he noted, “will have big shoes to fill.”
I cannot underline enough how proud I am to have served and fought alongside the Marines. From a tactical standpoint, the lessons we have learned are crucial and can be applied to various situations, including the challenges faced here in Georgia and all over the globe. Our combined mission has revealed that friendship and respect among us. “Coming together is a good start,” observed the great American industrialist Henry Ford; “keeping together is progress, and working together is a success.” These brave and accomplished Georgians and U.S. Marines have proved it.
Major Shakro Davitadze, Chief of Staff of 32nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Georgian Defense Forces.
I am very proud to be a military man and serve my homeland. My uncle was an inspiration for me to become a soldier and serve in the army. He was a military serviceman, always wore a military uniform, a very accurate, brave person…. He was a good example for my friends and me and always tried to uphold his way of life. So when I was in the 9th grade, I took a decision to become a military serviceman. Guided by my inspiration, I enrolled in the Military Academy.
While serving in the army, I have gathered a great deal of experience communicating with people in Georgia and abroad as well. Being a military serviceman is a huge responsibility, a great honor as you serve your homeland while contributing to global peace and security. Participating in international missions is a double responsibility because you must represent your country in the fight against terrorism shoulder-to-shoulder with the militaries of Georgia’s partner countries. We, Georgian soldiers, have participated in several international operations in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, and Mali.
I especially would like to highlight my contribution to NATO-led ISAF and RS missions in Afghanistan where the American military is one of our distinguished partners and brothers-in-arms. We fight shoulder-to-shoulder with each other, a great experience and challenge at the same time. The international mission in Afghanistan is not only an operation against a common enemy, but this is a moment for building relationships, friendships, and joint practices. Fighting with the soldiers of the United States of America is very important and a great experience. Our relations with the American military start with pre-deployment training in Georgia and afterward in Germany. We undergo training jointly at all times for international missions.
I’d like to say a few words about our American brothers. American military personnel are always motivated, accurate, and well-trained. Being among them and serving with them gives us a sense of pride and a feeling of having a reliable partner. In training and in conflict, the American soldiers always support their Georgian partners. They fought fearlessly alongside us when we were under direct or indirect fire from the enemy, and they were quick to render first aid when it was required.
“American brothers fought beside us and they supported us until the end of the operation. Afterward, we thanked them. Their answer: They were very proud to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with Georgian soldiers.”
I want to recall one of the operations that took place in Helmand Province during an ISAF mission in 2010. A Georgian soldier triggered a handmade mine while our unit was under direct fire. American soldiers called in air support and medical assistance, then provided a fire curtain so that a medical helicopter was able to land and evacuate the wounded soldier. American brothers fought beside us and they supported us until the end of the operation. Afterward, we thanked them. Their answer: They were very proud to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with Georgian soldiers, that Georgian and American forces plan and execute tasks with the same authority and expertise.
I also recollect my mission as S-3 Staff Officer in RS in 2017. Together with the American military, Georgian soldiers conducted operations daily, then we discussed and shared the pros and cons of each operation to improve our planning and execution of future operations. Daily planning processes within RS are undertaken jointly by Georgian and U.S. staff at the company or battalion level. This approach has been highly beneficial for the Georgian contingent. We gain unparalleled experience, which allows us to exercise this skill in daily staff planning sessions in our country. Using this experience, we plan military training, and we prepare our military for defensive tasks.
I would like to sum up the results of participating in international missions on a personal level. These missions give us more than good operational experience; they give us a chance to strengthen the partnership and friendship between the Georgian and American militaries. Relations with American soldiers are invaluable and precious for strengthening and improving the Georgian Army. I am proud to be a soldier of my country, of Georgia.