Georgian soldiers relieved by incoming troops in Afghanistan
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One unit of Georgian soldiers have ended their service in Afghanistan, sparking the beginning of peacekeeping duties for the next wave of soldiers in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.
The next rotation of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) officially began today when the II Infantry Brigade 22 Battalion accepted their duties in a hand-over ceremony at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul.
The incoming unit relieved the IV Mechanised Brigade 43 Battalion, who concluded their seven-month peacekeeping duties. Before departing the troops received awards from their United States (US) Army colleagues on Monday before handing over the combat banner to the incoming GAF soldiers.
The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthems of Georgia, the US and Afghanistan and also featured a minute of silence in memory of Georgian service members killed while serving in international peacekeeping missions or during conflicts for the country’s territorial integrity.
Coalition troops were awarded Georgia’s Defence Ministry medals at the ceremony by senior Georgian commanders. Photo by Ministry of Defence of Georgia/Facebook.
A handful of outgoing soldiers of the coalition forces were awarded Georgia’s Defence Ministry medals for their efforts to develop military cooperation between Georgia and the US. They were presented their medals by GAF Colonel Roman Jokhadze and 43 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Vitali Tskhadadze.
Officials who attended the ceremony included Georgia’s First Deputy Defence Minister David Ebralidze, the country’s Senior Military Representative in Afghanistan Colonel Giorgi Bliadze, US military officials, Bagram Air Base Commander Major General James Rainey and Task Force Solid Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Miller.
Soldiers of the 22 Battalion will serve in Afghanistan in the Resolute Support mission for the next seven months. Their main task is to provide security to the Bagram base and surrounding area.
Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support mission with 885 troops. The mission is a follow-up task from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, to which the country contributed about 750 troops.
The high standards and professionalism of the Georgian soldiers on duty in Afghanistan were recognised on Monday at a special ceremony where officers and personnel were awarded medals by their American allies at the Bagram Air Base.
The latest wave of Georgian soldiers to participate in the NATO-led Resolute Support international peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan have been farewelled in a poignant ceremony today.