30 May 2002
U.S. Begins Counterterrorism Training in Georgia
(May 30 DOD briefing on Georgia 'train and equip' program) (5550)
In response to a request by Georgia's President Eduard Shevardnadze,
U.S. special forces have begun a 70-day "train and equip" program for
200 Georgian staff officers, according to Lt. Col. Robert M.
Waltemeyer, the program's commander.
A second phase of the $64 million program will involve training four
400-men battalions and a 250-man mechanized company for 100 days each.
The purpose of the training is to "help the Georgian armed forces
improve their ability to maintain stability and sovereignty in this
region, which would obviously deny safe haven to any of those type of
terrorist organizations that would seek haven or transit through this
region," Waltemeyer said during a special May 30 Pentagon briefing via
telephone from Georgia.
The number of U.S. trainers and support personnel in Georgia will
never be more than 150, Waltemeyer said, and at present is "about 70."
The majority are Special Forces, also known as Green Berets.
"We have security. We have support. We have transportation. We have
translation. You name it; the Georgians are bending over backwards to
make us feel at home," Waltemeyer said.
As part of the program, the Georgian military participants will
receive weapons, ammunition, uniforms, communications and other
equipment, he said.
"We're not leaving war stocks," however, Waltemeyer emphasized. "Each
and every bullet is matched to a firing table for each and every
exercise that they'll participate in."
The program also brings some "quality-of-life improvements" to some of
Georgia's military bases. "We're improving some basic electricity,
basic water utilities and just trying to improve the living conditions
of a lot of their soldiers," Waltemeyer said.
Following is the Defense Department transcript of the briefing:
(begin transcript)
United States Department of Defense
News Transcript
Presenter: Lt. Col. Robert M. Waltemeyer Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 9:59
a.m. EDT
PHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE COMMANDER OF THE GEORGIA TRAIN AND EQUIP
PROGRAM
(Phone interview with the commander of the Georgia Train and Equip
Program)
Staff: Well, I have about 10:00, so let's go ahead and get started.
This morning -- thank you all for coming -- we're here to talk about
the Georgia Train and Equip Program, which essentially responds to a
request made by President Shevardnadze last October. This training
actually began on Monday, the 27th of May, and it's really an
extension of our ongoing bilateral security cooperation with the
Republic of Georgia.
Today we have on the telephone line for you Lieutenant Colonel Robert
Waltemeyer. Age is 40, and he's from Baltimore, Maryland. And he is
the commander of the Georgia Train and Equip Program. And he's here by
telephone today to take your questions. And he may have something that
he wants to say here up-front.
So, Colonel Waltemeyer, are you there?
Waltemeyer: Yes, I'm here.
Staff: Go ahead.
Waltemeyer: Good morning, everybody. I hope that you have a copy of
our slides or have been provided with some type of background or data
sheet regarding the program. I realize we have a limited amount of
time here, and I'll be able to focus in on your questions better if
you have that kind of information. Is that correct?
Staff: They do. Or if they don't, they're getting it right now.
Waltemeyer: Okay. Okay. I'll bring you up to date, then.
In April, I came over here with a small group of folks from European
Command and Special Operations Command Europe and we spent the better
part of a month conducting a logistics and engineer assessment for the
final setup of the program. Our main body arrived about a week ago,
with a great cooperative effort from all the agencies here in Georgia.
And we've been on the ground.
We've just completed -- or we are completing our first week of staff
training, while at the same time we're setting up the tactical phase,
that is preparing the ranges, the billets, the types of things we'll
need to start training the various battalions we'll work with.
We're already starting to see the success of our goals in terms of
interoperability between the various ministries and security agencies
here in this first week of training. We've had 120 -- over 120
students per day in the rank of captains, colonels and generals,
sitting side by side, from agencies who traditionally don't have the
opportunity to work together. They've been active, engaged and
enthusiastic and rather demanding to learn this U.S. approach to
developing, maintaining, training, and sustaining a national force,
you know, from the top down to the tactical level. In fact, they've
even asked for extra classes, tutoring, and focus-group discussions on
the weekend. They're rather interested and their interest, frankly, is
inspirational to an instructor.
Since we've been here, we've had a great partnership with the other
defense attaches. In fact, I briefed all the defense attaches this
week. That was the cooperative approach to working together to help
each other help -- (inaudible). These folks are sharing tips with
myself and my instructors. And this is really -- this is really
turning out to be a great opportunity for all of us.
The majority of my folks are Special Forces, and although our
operations are inherently joint, combined, and interagency, you know,
it's great, this being the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Green
Berets, to celebrate that on a mission of this type where so many
things that we've prided ourselves for so many years are really coming
together for us in a cooperative, enthusiastic atmosphere.
Staff: Okay. With that, I think we've got some questions out here for
you. Okay?
Waltemeyer: Okay.
Staff: Charlie? Go ahead.
Q: Colonel, Charlie Aldinger with Reuters. Are any of these officers
-- these captains, colonels, generals you were speaking about -- are
any of them now going to take part in IMET? And will that help, having
them come to this country to attend staff colleges?
Waltemeyer: IMET I can answer on two levels. Number one, we've already
identified those members of their forces who have attended the IMET
program, and those folks are actively participating as assistant
instructors with us and helping us communicate some rather complex
ideas. Additionally, we're identifying people who we'll recommend back
to European Command for future consideration for that program.
Q: Good morning, Colonel. It's Thom Shanker from The New York Times. I
have a couple of boring logistical questions for you, then a broader
one, if I could. Is your training being undertaken in Georgian, in
Russian or in English or a combination of those? Can you describe for
us what specialties you brought over? Are your troops in traditional
ODA formation or something else?
And the broader question, sir: Could you share with us the kind of
questions you're getting from the Georgians? What are their areas of
particular interest that they see you as teaching them?
Waltemeyer: Okay. First of all, the first question was logistics,
language, and the last one was curriculum; is that correct?
Q: Yes, that's fine.
Waltemeyer: First of all, it is said that experts discuss logistics,
amateurs discuss tactics. So I'd like to start with logistics first.
We came in here, we established that base, and we continue to do that.
The logistics of the program are pretty much -- are pretty well set.
We've been well-supported in the effort. In terms of language,
everything is Georgian and English, and we work with our interpreters.
In fact, there's about for rehearsals that go into that process before
we get up on the platform and give that to them.
The composition of my men are based on a mixture of experts from
European Command, Special Operations Command and my own Special Forces
soldiers. And based on their education level, on their background,
we've put together a task force, essentially, of experts to teach the
various requirements. And the feedback we're getting to date is
apparently the student body is very enthusiastic and interested in
what we're teaching and the way we're teaching it. They're really
interested in the civilian and military interface that we have through
our own secretary of Defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and how to break up the various service responsibilities. That's
something that is new to them, and they're very interested in that.
They're very interested in how we do budgeting, in fact, and how we
apportion monies to our various forces.
Staff: Next question, please.
Q: Good morning, Colonel. Nathan Hobbs, Defense Week.
I wondered if you could discuss a little bit some of the problems the
Georgian military has inherited from the Soviets -- particularly
extreme hazing and a lack of qualified NCOs. Are you addressing any of
those issues?
Waltemeyer: I can't address any hazing or anything of that nature as a
result of Soviet influence or lack of Soviet influence. But what I can
say is that the NCO system is something that is new to an army of this
nature, and it's something we're addressing. In fact, a preponderance
of my instructors are noncommissioned officers for exactly that reason
-- so that they can see the strength of the American noncommissioned
officer corps.
To that end, one of the other nations here -- I believe the Germans
are contributing NCO training, as well as the Czechs have contributed
NCO training. What we're doing is sitting down with those folks in
kind of a mini-coalition here, and we're working through what has been
trained previously, what will be trained in the future and trying to
make sure that Georgia Train and Equip takes all these other factors
into consideration, so that we don't, you know, train in a direction
that's not appropriate for the Georgians or any other programs going
on here.
Next question?
Q: Sir, this is Kathy Rehm from American Forces Press Service.
Have you been experiencing any issues in having NCOs deal with
officers in this foreign military? And what would you describe as the
greatest challenge that's facing the Georgian military or that's
facing you training them?
Waltemeyer: First question, on the NCOs; second question is
challenges. First, let me answer the NCOs.
No, in fact. When I arrived here, one of the things I did at the
highest levels of the military leadership is make sure they understood
that my noncommissioned officers, you know -- they're the backbone of
our military force in the United States, and that's how they're going
to be applied here. We're going to apply the maturity and expertise
and have them try to inspire these same in their counterparts. That's
number one.
Number two, challenges in terms of logistics, in terms of --
(inaudible) -- in terms of attitude -- this has been one of the easier
missions that I've been on to set up, and considering lack of
challenges in that area, the host nation is very concerned about
making sure that we are comfortable here. We have security. We have
support. We have transportation. We have translation. You name it; the
Georgians are bending over backwards to make us feel at home.
Next question?
Q: Hi. Neil Baumgardner, Defense Daily.
A question -- you've talked a lot about the training portion. I was
wondering if you could talk about what kind of equipment is being
provided to the Georgian military. Is it radios, helicopters,
whatever?
Waltemeyer: Okay, on equipment, as part of my program, we are
providing small arms ammunition, small arms equipment. I -- we can
provide more information in terms of the individual uniforms -- boots,
helmets and field gear that we're providing to the Georgia Train and
Equip mission. However, what we're trying to do is some of the other
programs that are in here -- for instance, the former FMF case, where
both the United States and the Turks contributed helicopters. And
we've integrated already with that effort between ourselves and Turks
and the contractors that are already here. And we will start right
within about the next week here, getting accurate property records of
everything that's been contributed to all the units we're going to be
training with, so that we can merge, you know, and leverage all the
benefits of all the great equipment that's been contributed by
everybody.
Next question.
Q: Yeah, George Edmondson, Cox Newspapers.
Two questions: One, what sort of specialized training are you planning
to help them combat terrorism, particularly up in the Pankisi Gorge?
And also, related to the previous question: What sort of concerns do
you have about corruption and lack of discipline in the system there?
Waltemeyer: First issue, on specialized training; the second issue is
-- sorry, could you repeat the second part of your question there?
Q: The corruption --
Waltemeyer: I got it. I got it.
Okay, specialized training: The basis of this training program for the
tactical phase will be tailored to the specific type of unit. In other
words, the commandos will be basically airmobile. The 16th Mountain
will conduct light infantry operations in mountainous terrain. The
11th Motorized Rifle Brigade's infantry company will be conduct light
infantry operations, operating with tanks and personnel carriers. And
there will be a Special Forces battalion trained and then a med
company team.
The bottom line is, they're being trained in standard combined-arms
operations that they would conduct in the type of terrain we find
here. That's predominantly plateau and some low mountains. And we'll
be able to operate to conduct light infantry operations as they would
in a counterinsurgency environment -- specifically Pankisi. We are not
going to the Pankisi, have no plans to go to Pankisi. However, if you
look at previous press releases, it will say "Pankisi-like
conditions," and that implies, obviously, a light-infantry-based
requirement.
The other thing you mentioned was corruption. I don't think I'm
qualified to comment on corruption. I've not seen any, and I'm not
aware of any. I'm here to train and equip.
Q: Sir, this is Pauline --
Waltemeyer: Next question, please.
Q: This is Pauline Jelinek of the Associated Press.
Waltemeyer: Hi.
Q: One of the reasons we were told for the training program was the
possible presence of al Qaeda in the Pankisi Gorge, and if they
weren't there, this would help prevent them from coming there. Do you
get the sense from your students or local community people you might
have come into contact with that this is a big concern -- that they're
glad you're there helping them with this? Do they feel like they're a
part of the war against terrorism?
Waltemeyer: First, on Pankisi and al Qaeda: Again, I am not -- I'm not
prepared to comment on that, because I'm not aware of any of those
type of folks being there -- one.
Number two, I do know that we're here to help maintain -- help the
Georgian armed forces improve their ability to maintain stability and
sovereignty in this region, which would obviously deny safe haven to
any of those type of terrorist organizations that would seek haven or
transit through this region. So obviously, they feel as though they're
part of the antiterrorism coalition. Obviously, they're very happy
that we're happy that we're here. Obviously, they see themselves as
important to precluding the types of lawlessness and insurgency that
might contribute to the impression that they'd have difficulty in
defending their own territory from that.
Q: Colonel -- Colonel, Charlie Aldinger with Reuters again. You
haven't said, how many trainers have you there now? Are they all
there? And number two, this program is costing about $64 million --
costing the United States about $64 million, which is a drop in the
bucket to Washington. But is not that bigger than Georgia's whole
defense budget in what virtually is a darn poor country?
Waltemeyer: Number one, I've got about -- the answer to the question
on trainers, I have about 70 trainers here. And based on our specific
requirements, I'll rotate trainers in and out, but we'll never have
more than 150 total trainers and support personnel on the ground.
Sixty-four million? Sixty-four million is not a drop in the bucket to
a fellow like me. I kind of feel, as an American taxpayer, much like
the rest of you, I have a responsibility for every single penny being
spent over here. And I can give you my word that we're accounting for
every last bit of it, to include every piece of equipment we give to
these folks. And they're equally as concerned about the perception
that they're conducting good property accountability procedures and
security of the equipment we'll bring in here.
I don't know what the Georgian defense budget is, but I can tell you
that $64 million will be well-spent and well-invested and will greatly
enhance the already enthusiastic and dedicated force we found on the
ground here.
Next question.
Q: This is Lisa Burgess with Stars and Stripes. A two-part question.
First of all, talking again about what you're supplying to them, we're
talking about small arms and ammo. Is this just enough to train the
officers that you're working with, or are you supplying enough small
arms and ammo for the entire army?
And then I have a follow-up.
Waltemeyer: Okay, let me clarify. We'll train about 200 staff
officers, and at the end of it, what they'll be able to do, at the end
of the 70-day program of instruction for staff, is they'll be able to
administer the rest of the train and equip program. That's everything
from training plans to equipment we're bringing in.
Now, what we will do is we will train -- let me check my math here --
four, 400-men battalions, and then a 250-man mech company team. So we
are bringing ammunition and arms to round out the requirements to
provide that kind of training for roughly 2,000 tactical soldiers.
These staff officers may or may not be part of the battalions we're
training -- certainly not all of them. But again, this equipment and
ammunition is being specifically brought in for the approved four
battalions and one mechanized company team.
Q: Okay. So it's just enough ammunition and arms to work them through
that training cycle, not to anticipate any further operations.
Waltemeyer: No. Each and every bullet is matched to a firing table for
each and every exercise that they'll participate in. So the answer to
your question and the question I think you're getting at is no, we're
not leaving war stocks here.
Q: Thanks. That will do it.
Waltemeyer: Next question.
Q: Yeah. Jim Mannion from AFP. I wonder if you could give a sense of
what it is that the Georgian military lacks that they require this
training that you're providing.
Waltemeyer: I think what they lack, frankly, is they lack resources.
They lack resources. They're certainly not lacking in enthusiasm and
they're certainly not lacking in discipline, professionalism. I mean,
the folks we see here are pretty mentally and physically tough. What
they really lack is the focused resource effort that this program is
providing. So that, you know, at least during the 70-day staff
training program instruction and then the additional 100-day blocks
for each battalion, what they really lack and what they'll be provided
here is specific focus, specific logistics, specific requirements for
their training.
Next question.
Q: Sir, Tony Capaccio with Bloomberg News. One question on the
trainers themselves. Can you give us a feel for their level of
experience, in terms of how many types of operations they've been
involved in in the past, and the types of foreign internal defense
training they've participated in? And second, the commando battalion
in particular, will this be the core, almost strike force for a
counterinsurgency effort, or will all the battalions you're training
share that kind of expertise?
Waltemeyer: Okay. The first question is -- and I'll check and make
sure you have a copy of the slides based on the experience of my
trainers and the number of missions they've been on. I've got one old
"Vietnamer" here with me, and he's got experience doing that as far
back as that. I have folks on my team that have done similar missions
in Africa, South America, Central America and throughout the world. So
we've got a very experienced crew here, and we've kind of brought all
of our various experiences together and blended it into a pretty good
medley here of training for these folks.
And then second, commando strikes. Each one of the battalions is going
to end up with a similar capability, and that being light-infantry,
daylight -- (inaudible word) -- size attacks.
Now, the commandos, yes, we'll maximize the use of the helicopters
that are already here, provided by the U.S. and the Turkish programs.
But then each of them, once they get on the ground will have basically
the same capabilities in light infantry.
Next question.
Q: Sir, this is Kathy Rhem from American Forces Press Service again.
Can you explain to us what your living conditions are like? And what
kind of interaction do you have with the Georgian officers other than
in the classroom? Are you being exposed to the Georgian culture at
all? And what are your thoughts about being in Georgia?
Waltemeyer: Living conditions and interaction with officers. Okay. In
the interim what we did, so that we could set up as quickly as
possible, and we actually saved quite a bit of money that we can plow
directly back into the program at the outset, is we're living in the
-- (inaudible) -- and that Sheraton is -- was convenient and had all
the requirements that we needed to get started as quickly as possible.
So our living conditions are -- (inaudible) -- and it's providing
offices for us and those kind of things.
The next thing is interaction with the officers. Since we've been
here, we've been interacting with them on an almost 24-hour basis so
that we can, you know, have a good, focused cooperative approach and
everybody's working together.
In terms of off-time and getting to see the country, well, we hope
that's coming, but I tell you what, folks are working hard here and
we've got some rather demanding and eager students that we want to
make sure that we please and honor, so that's what our focus is right
now.
Next question.
Staff: Colonel, your first answer in regards to your own living
conditions came across garbled on the line. Could you repeat that for
us, please?
Waltemeyer: Yeah. What we did -- can you hear me?
Staff: You're fine now.
Waltemeyer: Okay. While we're having our base camp built out at one of
the training areas, we've moved into a hotel here, a Sheraton, because
again, it was the cheapest and most cost-effective option. We've
actually been able to save quite a bit of money to plow back into the
program because we didn't have to do any improvements anywhere else.
The safety, force protection, and the concern for housing and feeding
my men were immediately addressed, so we could get right down to
business.
Next question.
Q: It's John McWethy with ABC News. When do you anticipate in your
time line you will get to the phase three stuff -- the more advanced
training, the more interesting commando day and night tactics?
Waltemeyer: We are currently scheduled to kick that off on 27 August.
Right now we're going through the process of helping them assess those
folks and organize for that. We've already gone out and set up
training areas, and we're staking out all the range requirements for
that.
But really, the staff training, I feel, if you want to have a strong
foundation, the staff training is where you need to start. Although
it's not as visually interesting, as exciting and, you know, we don't
get to run around and have as much fun as we're used to, to really
train from a national level, to be able to employ the force with the
capabilities we're going to give them, I think this is the right way
to do it.
Next question.
Q: Are you training any internal security forces?
Waltemeyer: Internal security forces? We're training a number of
ministries here, a number of ministry representatives. We have a
number sitting in the class. I would have to -- let me list here --
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Defense, Ministry of State
Security, State Special Police Service, Georgia Border Guards, and I
think that may be all of them. But we're just conducting staff
training only with those folks, and we keep rigorous accountability of
who we're training, and we make sure that we foster that
interoperability which is so important to get these folks to work
together for perhaps the first time they've ever worked together in
their history. And it's really great to see these folks sitting among
each other, talking, having intellectual discussions. And you can tell
these guys have just not had that opportunity before, and it's great
to see.
Next question.
Q: I understand you're rebuilding a barracks. Are there other
construction projects your troops are involved in?
Waltemeyer: Rebuilding barracks -- what we're doing is, we were able
to provide some quality-of-life improvements in some of their bases.
And we are not completely rebuilding barracks, but what we're doing,
much as the Turks have here, we're trying to spread those programs,
you know, that wealth around the country here. We're improving some
basic electricity, basic water utilities and just trying to improve
the living conditions of a lot of their soldiers.
And that's been a good thing. That's been well received, obviously.
And we just hope that'll kind of improve their living conditions and
make them better participants in the training.
Next question.
Q: It's Pauline Jelinek of the Associated Press again.
Sir, can you say how long the entire program is expected to take, how
long you'll be there?
Waltemeyer: The entire program -- I think we've timelined it out to 21
-- I can't remember what exact date that is from now, but it's about
21 months from now. And that's putting all of the staff training and
the tactical phases and with a little bit of an assessment phase
between each one. We have to provide a detailed assessment at the
beginning, middle and end of each phase. We send that back to the
European Command, where it goes to the JCS, so that they can make sure
that the program is on track, the training is on track, it's
appropriate, and the investment in terms of time, money and manpower
is well spent.
Q: And that's all at the same -- I'm sorry. That's all at the same
location except one location that you're at?
Waltemeyer: No. No, the staff training, ma'am, will be conducted in a
number of locations -- (inaudible) -- the capital, and that's to
foster interoperability. We move around to the various agencies, so
they feel welcome coming into the classroom -- one. The commanders
will be trained at Krtsanisi, and then we'll train the next battalion
a little north of town, at a place called Satchki. And we'll go to
each one of their locations and one, build them a range complex, a
little training area, and at the same time, approve some of their
basic living facilities.
So it's going to be a total of about four locations by the end of --
just on the edges of Tbilisi, north, south, east and west.
Q: Thank you.
Waltemeyer: Next question.
Q: Neil Baumgardner again, Defense Daily.
A question - as part of this program, are you conducting any sort of
assessment of Georgia's military requirements, in terms of equipment?
Or can you just make any sort of observations that you've made of what
they need, whether it be more helicopters or trucks or small arms,
whatever?
Waltemeyer: Well, an important aspect of all U.S. military training is
the assessment phase. You know, we have a four-phase process where we
assess everything. We have been given complete access to everything
here in Georgia. This is my third trip here. On our previous two
assessments, we've been welcomed into arms rooms, storage areas, been
able to see everything because they want to share that with us and
show us what they have. And based on those assessments, that's how we
set up the Georgia train-and-equipment program in this phase. We'll
continue to assess their training requirements, continue to assess
their equipment requirements and continue to set that up. But the
important thing is for right now just taking care of what's here for
this program.
Q: Sir, this is Tony Capaccio again with Bloomberg. When the news
first came out that the U.S. was sending troops to train in Georgia,
there was a great hubbub, and it was an attempt to connect what you
were doing there with our efforts in Yemen, in the Philippines, in the
Sudan. Can you step back a second and give us your take on where you
fit in in terms of the big picture of the U.S. war on terrorism, in
terms of building coalitions where there were none before?
Waltemeyer: Well, I would hope that all these efforts are tied
together. I'm certain that they are. Unfortunately, I have -- I don't
have as much visibility on Yemen and the Philippines, obviously, as I
do with Georgia, but I can tell you the folks here feel that they are
contributing from a regional perspective to the U.S. anti-terrorism
coalition.
I'm not sure if I answered your question correctly there, or got your
meaning
Q: This sort of builds on Tony's question a little bit, but I'm coming
at it from a different angle. Lisa Burgess again from Stars and
Stripes. We do these sorts of programs frequently. Can you explain how
this train-and-equip is different from other train-and-equips that
have been done in the past? Is it much larger, more extensive, or
similar to things that we've done recently?
Waltemeyer: I would say the one thing that is different is, number
one, from the commander on the ground's perspective, I was brought in
with my men straight up front, so the guys actually conducting the
mission were afforded the opportunity by Special Operations Command
Europe, European Command and the JCS to come in here and really, you
know, give the military experts, you know, eye on the ground to what
needed to happen.
And number two, I think a very important thing is we are training from
the top down. In other words, the folks that will administer this
program long after we're gone are the folks that are being empowered
with the ability to plan and sustain this after our departure. So I'm
very comfortable with the way this is going because we're training the
leadership first in how to take care of this thing, and ensure our
U.S. investment lasts quite a few years after our departure.
Next question.
Q: Just looking for your unit of assignment. A question from Reuters,
looking for what your unit of assignment is.
Waltemeyer: We're 10th Special Forces Group from Fort Carson.
Staff: Okay. Well -- well, it looks like we have one more question. Go
ahead, Lisa.
Q: I was trying to get an answer to -- this is Lisa Burgess again. I'm
sorry. I'm trying to get an answer to the question, is this larger
than other programs you've done in the past? Not you personally, but
programs that you know of. And I may be asking the wrong person.
Waltemeyer: Yeah, I'm -- this is a large, comprehensive program in
terms of the ones that my guys have been involved in. I couldn't
comment on any others. But I do know this is a pretty big one for the
guys I have over here with me. This would compare to OFR in Africa, I
think, in terms of size, scope and investment.
Staff: There's one more here, and we'll wrap it up then.
Q: Yes, sir, this is Tony Capaccio again with Bloomberg. You'd
mentioned interoperability. At the end of the 21 months, what types of
infrastructure or interoperability training do you hope to leave there
so that the United States would be able to work with these Georgian
troops in the event of an emergency over the next decade?
Waltemeyer: Well, that's a good question. At the end of the day,
obviously, from top to bottom they're going to understand U.S.
doctrine, which is heavily steeped in standard NATO agreements. That's
one.
Number two is they're going to have equipment and arms that in many
cases, especially the communications gear, will be interoperable with
our own. They'll have standard operating procedures among themselves
that are based on our own best standard operating procedures that
we're bringing forward from our service schools. And I guess the only
other thing I could say is they'll have the seal of approval from U.S.
Special Forces to make sure it's a good program.
Staff: Well, Colonel Waltemeyer, we appreciate you taking the time to
talk with us today, and on behalf of everyone in the room here I'm
sure, I wish you the best of luck as you go forward in this training.
Waltemeyer: Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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