Georgia National Guard's 1-171st Aviation opens Noble Partner 18

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom | An HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter approaches a landing zone during Noble Partner 18 during a medical evacuation exercise at the Vaziani Training Area, Georgia. The exercise validated the joint medical evacuation procedures of U.S. and Georgia Armed Forces.  

VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, GEORGIA

08.01.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. R.J. Lannom 

124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

The Georgia Army National Guard’s Marietta based 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment opened the U.S. Army Europe Noble Partner 18 by conducting an air assault demonstration with Soldiers from the Georgian Armed Forces and German Soldiers from the Panzergrenadierbatallion 391 and the Vilseck, Germany based Iron Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

Noble Partner 18 is an U.S. Army Europe cooperatively led exercise with the country of Georgia and Georgian Armed Forces at the Vaziani and Camp Norio training areas Aug. 1-15, 2018. Noble Partner promotes the Georgian, regional partners and U.S. forces readiness and interoperability in a multinational environment; while contributing to a stable and secure environment in the region.

“This is an amazing opportunity to deploy our unit from Georgia and work in a multinational environment,” said Lt. Col. Barry S. Simmons, commander, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment. “The opportunity to work with our partners and allies provides an amazing opportunity.”

The 1-171st will conduct air transport, air assault missions and support air medical evacuations for 13 participating countries. Improving their unit’s readiness over the course of the two-week exercise is a priority.

“This gives us the opportunity to train on our pilot skills,” said Maj. Louis L. Williams, operations officer, Headquarters, 1-171st. “and provides us the opportunity to train our logistics and maintenance procedures.”
Exercises such as Noble Partner 18 provide essential opportunities for Georgia Guardsmen to train with Georgian forces and provides for integrated, total force training under the State Partnership Program to ensure interoperability.

The U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program, under the Department of Defense security cooperation and global engagement, the National Guard has 65 partnerships around the world to promote access, enhance military capabilities, and enhance the principles of responsible governance. Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Georgia National Guard SPP partnership with the state of Georgia.

• Date Taken: 08.01.2018
• Date Posted: 08.02.2018 10:28
• Story ID: 286912
• Location: VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, GE