US to train 50 Georgian firefighters within State Partnership Programme
The Director of the State Partnership Programme was hosted by the First Deputy Head of the Emergency Situations Management Service, Levan Zhantiashvili on Friday. Photo: es.gov.ge.
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Field professionals from the United States will train Georgian firefighters to improve the capabilities of first responders and develop military-civilian cooperation and interagency coordination within the US-funded State Partnership Programme, Georgia’s Emergency Management Service announced on Friday.
The statement from the body operating under the Interior Ministry said up to 50 firefighters would be involved in swift water rescue and mine-rescue exercises, to be held in western Georgia’s mountainous Racha region and in the Borjomi Gorge in central Georgia in August.
The State Partnership Programme is aimed at developing interoperability between the US and Georgia. Beyond National Guard capability development, it also encompasses assistance in logistics, cyberspace operations and disaster preparedness.
The state partnership programme fosters interoperability between the US and Georgia and promotes peace and security, the US Embassy to Georgia reports.US Major General Thomas Carden is in Tbilisi to attend the 25th anniversary of the state partnership programme “to commemorate the enduring relationship between the country of Georgia and the US state of Georgia,” the US Embassy said.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili has received the Olgethrope Award for his exceptional military service during his visit to the United States and marked 25 years of successful cooperation with Georgia National Guard (GeorgiaGuard) through the National Guard State Partnership Program.
US congressman Brendan Boyle said he supported the Georgia Support Act in the House of Representatives “to reaffirm and strengthen the US-Georgia partnership”.