TBILISI. Dec 11 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. instructors have practically ended the training of the first Georgian special operations battalion, a source in the Georgian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency Wednesday.
"The ceremony of graduation of the first SOp battalion - Kommandos - will be held on Republic Square in Tbilisi December 15," the source said.
This battalion fully meets the standards of the leading Western powers, it is always ready to take part in anti-terror or other special operations, the source said.
A source in the U.S. embassy in Georgia told Interfax- Military News Agency that simultaneously with the graduation, instructors from the U.S. Marines would substitute for special forces troopers. The change has been planned and new instructors will train the Sakhcheri alpine battalion, now being manned.
The U.S. Train and Equip Program worth USD64m implies that American instructors will train four Georgian battalions that account for about 1,700 troops.