Immediate Response 2008

According to United States European Command,

Immediate Response is an annual, bilateral security cooperation exercise conducted between U.S. and NATO and coalition partners. It is a longstanding Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed exercise focused on interoperability training and theater security cooperation, and is designed to promote understanding and cooperation between military forces of the United States and our allies. [ [http://www.eucom.mil/english/FullStory.asp?art=1748 "U.S., Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Ukraine conduct exercise in Georgia"] , "United States European Command, 2008-07-09. Retrieved on 2008-08-20."]

The 2008 exercise was reportedly conducted jointly by the USA and Georgian Armed Forces at the Vaziani Military Base beetween 15 July and 31 July.Kerdzevadze, Tea. [http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=5535 "International Large-Scale Military Exercise ‘Immediate Response 2008’"] , "Georgia Today", 2008-08-01. Retrieved on 2008-08-20.] Planned by the United States European Command and financed by the U.S. Defense Department at a cost of $8 million. [ [http://en.rian.ru/world/20080715/114022994.html "U.S., Georgia start joint drills near Tbilisi"] , "RIA Novosti", 2008-07-15. Retrieved on 2008-08-20.] [ [http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4981&Itemid=65 International Large-Scale Military Exercise ‘Immediate Response 2008’] ] Georgian servicemen totalling 1630 participated, including representatives of the Joint Staff, Land Forces Staff, IV Brigade, the 41st and 42nd Battalions and Engineer Battalion Company. From the USA, 1000 military servicemen took part in the exercise including the United States Army Europe, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Battalion 121 Infantry Regiment Georgian National Guard (Atlanta, Georgia) and 5045th General Support Unit. Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Ukraine each had 10 servicemen participating as well.

On July 21st, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was personally present and addressed the servicemen, saying:

“The main task of Georgian officers and soldiers is training. This international exercise is a unique case as we have the possibility to hold trainings along with the representatives of the best army in the world for a month. I think that we have created a new military school in Georgia in recent years. Believe that what all of you have learned now will remain in our country and will be shared with the future generations. That is why we have to train theoretically and practically as this is a precondition of victory. The main thing is to get acquainted with independent decision-making and free thinking.”

These exercises were held less than a month before the outbreak of the 2008 South Ossetia war. Almost concurrently, Russia conducted it's own military exercises in the north Caucasus (including North Ossetia), called Caucasus Frontier 2008. [ [http://en.rian.ru/world/20080715/114038236.html "Russia begins active stage of Caucasus 2008 military exercise"] , "RIA Novosti", 2008-07-15. Retrieved on 2008-08-20.]

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