The Training and Military Education Support Centre "Krtsanisi" ( ka, წვრთნებისა და სამხედრო განათლების მხარდამჭერი ცენტრი „კრწანისი“) is a major training facility for the

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

and its US Marine Corps partners, located at the

Krtsanisi The Battle of Krtsanisi ( ka, კრწანისის ბრძოლა, tr) was fought between the Qajar Iran (Persia) and the Georgian armies of the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti and Kingdom of Imereti at the place of Krtsanisi near Tbilisi, ...

settlement, outside Georgia’s capital city of

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

, at the foothills of the Iaghluja mountainous range. It is operated by the Georgian Defense Forces

General Staff A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, enlisted and civilian staff who serve the commander of a division or other large military un ...

Military Training and Education Command.History of National Training Centre "Krtsanisi"

Ministry of Defense of Georgia The Ministry of Defense of Georgia (, ''sakartvelos tavdatsvis saministro'') is the Georgian government ministry in charge of the Defense Forces of Georgia and regulating activities in defence of the country from external threats, preserving terr ...

. Retrieved 2011-05-06. Established in April 1997, the unit was known as the Krtsanisi National Training Center (ეროვნული სასწავლო ცენტრი „კრწანისი“) until 2016. It was also referred to as the Krtsanisi Training Area (KTA), especially in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

sources.

History

The training centre Krtsanisi was formed on the basis of the former Iaghluja shooting range on April 22, 1997. Since 2002, the centre has been a principal ground for the U.S.-sponsored training programs for the Georgian military (

GTEP The Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) was an American-sponsored 18-month, $64-million program aimed at increasing the capabilities of the Georgian armed forces by training and equipping four 600-man battalions with light weapons, vehicles ...

GSSOP The Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program (GSSOP) was a security assistance program designed to create an increased capability in the Georgian military to support Operation Iraqi Freedom stability missions. Launched in January 2005, ...

, GDP–ISAF). From 2002 to 2007, $6.5 million of GSSOP funds were used to build barracks, classrooms, a dining hall, and other infrastructure at the Krtsanisi centre. In 2010, the centre was equipped with the

Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System The multiple integrated laser engagement system, or MILES, is used by the U.S. military and other armed forces around the world for training purposes. It uses lasers and blank cartridges to simulate actual battle. Individual soldiers carry small l ...

(MILES). On January 11, 2011, an explosion of 120mm mortar shell during artillery drills killed three and injured thirteen soldiers at the Krtsanisi centre. Since August 2015, the facility also hosts the NATO–Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC).

Structure and courses

The Centre maintains seven principal training courses: * Basic Combat Training Course *Infantry Specialization Course *Anti-aircraft Gunner Training Course *Artillery Training Course *Combat Operations Supporters Training Course *Snipers Training Course *Sergeants Preparation Course Major Malkhaz Merlani (b. 1976) has been the chief of the centre since 2010.Commander of National Training Center "Krtsanisi".

Archived
by

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®. Retrieved 2011-05-06.

References

{{Reflist Military education and training in Georgia (country)