TBILISI. March 11 (Interfax-AVN) - The U.S. Department of Defense has elaborated several training programs for the Sachkheri mountain battalion, a light infantry battalion of the 11th motorized rifle brigade and the Commando battalion of the Georgian Armed Forces, a source in the Georgian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"In accordance with the plans of U.S. military specialists, the mountain battalion and the battalion of the 11th brigade must be ready for joint operations with Interior Ministry troops and special units of the Georgian State Security Ministry," the source said.
"The Commando battalion will be trained on a special program," he noted. Having mastered the program's elements, the battalion will be ready to accomplish independent and usually secret operations against terrorists. In particular, "reconnaissance and sabotage activities in the rear of a foreign enemy or terrorist formations will become the battalion's main missions," the source added.
In addition to modern small arms the mountain and motorized rifle battalions will receive light artillery to support main attack forces. The Commando battalion will be fitted with "light- armored vehicles that provides for high mobility."
The first stage of training of antiterrorist formations is to last for five to six months, the source stressed.
"The U.S. military inspectors who are to arrive in Tbilisi on March 20 will bring the full package of proposals on the establishment of special antiterrorist formations within the Georgian Armed Forces," the source added.