VAZIANI TRAINING BASE, Georgia -- Marine Corps camps, bases and stations are all across the globe and are a necessary and fundamental part of Corps stability. However, no matter where a Marine calls home, it’s in the field where the real training takes place.
Marines from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and members of the Georgian Armed Forces departed the Vaziani Training Base and moved several miles into the hills July 16 to begin training the Georgian Armed Forces in basic infantry tactics.
“The base here is nice, but the field is awesome,” said Lance Cpl Daniel S. Heitger, a mortarman with Co. L.
“With all the mountains around us, it’s motivating,” said Heitger, “I understand why the Georgians fight so hard to protect it.”
The day started with the staging of Marine and Georgian gear at the barracks. After a quick gear check, all the Marines, Georgians and equipment were loaded onto trucks and driven to the hillside.
“I personally think that their support is motivating for us,” said Sgt. Rollie D. Cramer, a combat marksmanship trainer with Co. L. “These soldiers are here to train for their future deployment in Iraq. It’s great to assist them in training for their future rolls in Iraq and in Georgia.”
The vehicles arrived at the service members’ new home after a 30-minute ride where the temperature rose to almost 100 degrees.
Hot chow was brought in on trucks and Marines and Georgians mixed together and began getting to know each other.
“I originally thought the language barrier would make it difficult for us to train them, but because of our similarities it is much easier than expected,” said Cramer.
With the help of translators, the line of service members asked each other questions on every subject imaginable. The sounds of laughter and smiles on faces were everywhere in the long line of hungry Marines and Georgian soldiers who all seemed ecstatic to be around each other.
“I feel happy to be here,” said Cpl. Lasha Managadze, group commander of the Georgian Forces. “I look forward to what the Marines will teach us.”
Once chow was over, the service members retired to their tents to get the much needed rest for the strenuous training ahead of them.
“This is a great opportunity for the Georgians and Americans to train together," said Cramer, "and for us to teach them some of the infantry tactics which have made the Marines so successful.”