Georgian Armed Forces have been participating in peacekeeping missions (the Balkans, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan) since 1999.
The first Georgian peacekeeping platoon was deployed in the Balkans in 1999. Since then the Georgian military were participating in KFOR peacekeeping operation; one platoon (34 military personnel) in the Turkish Battalion in Mamusha and one company (150 military personnel) in the German Brigade in Prizren since 2003. In March 2008 Georgian peacekeeping mission completely leaved Balkans.
The first peacekeeping contingent, medical group (70 military medical personnel) and engineer platoon was sent to Iraq, in Tikrit in 2003. In 2004, 300 military personnel performed a peacekeeping mission as part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq. In 2005, the number of Georgian troops stationed in Iraq was increased up to 850. Since July of 2007, with the initiative of the President of Georgia later approved by the Parliament, 2000 military personnel of the 3rd Infantry Brigade fulfilled a peacekeeping mission in Al Kut (Wasit Province).
2000 Georgian military personnel of the First Infantry Brigade were deployed in the base CLEAR (350 militaries), in the base DELTA (1500 militaries), in Baghdad (150 militaries). According to the rotation principle they returned to Georgia towards the end of 2008.
Georgia is one of the largest contributors per capita to the ISAF military operation ongoing under the aegis of NATO in Afghanistan. Initially, up to 50 military servants were deployed in the peacekeeping mission in 2004, whose main duty there was to insure security during local presidential elections. Afterwards, form 9 November 2009, in the town of Ghor province, Chaghcharan, the Georgian surgeon, Captain Gvalia was replaced by another Georgian army physician of the Artillery Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant Revishvili. The Georgian doctors have been performing peace mission in the province integrated in the Lithuanian contingent reconstruction group.
On 16November 2009, Company of the 23rd Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of Land Forces (composed of 172 military servants and Orthodox Chaplain, Father Jioseb) left for Afghanistan to take part in the NATO-led security operation. Georgian peacekeeping company has been deployed in the province of Kabul to accomplish the mission there as a part of the French peace contingent at the military base “Warehouse” of the Regional Command’s HQs.
The Georgian Peace Battalion, going to deploy in Afghanistan, went through training courses at the Senaki military base in full compliance of NATO standards meanwhile two weeks. The US-Georgian joint military training named as “Immediate Response” is part of the program providing for the preparation of Georgian militaries for the International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, including counterinsurgency operations.
In April 2010, the 31st Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of GAF (consisting of in total 750 military servicemen) was sent to the Province of Helmand located in the south of Afghanistan to engage in full range of security operations with the support of the US military units. Georgian Battalion started preparation for the international peacekeeping mission since 1 September 2009 and underwent 6 month intensive preparation at the NationalTrainingCenter “Krtsanisi” with the guidance of the US Marine Corpse Expeditionary Brigade. Several month tactical preparations were led in the US Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC). Preparedness level of Georgian militaries was evaluated by the US Trainers and Advisor’s Group of Marine Corps. From the 13th of January, the 31st Battalion personnel underwent preparation at the US military base in the German town Hohenfelse.
Participation in international peacekeeping missions provides our military members the opportunity to obtain practical experience and to demonstrate our nation's readiness to cooperate with NATO and with other Partner Countries Forces.
Georgian Armed Forces have been participating in peacekeeping missions (the Balkans, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan) since 1999.
