Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Quick Links

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/marine_georgiamove_081208w/
news/2008/08/marine_georgiamove_081208w

Marines in Georgia relocated, may leave


By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 14, 2008 12:50:23 EDT

Marine trainers working in Georgia during the Russian invasion Friday have been relocated from an undisclosed military area to a hotel in the nation’s capital and may be moved out of the war-torn country completely, Marine officials said Tuesday.

Spokesmen at Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans and Marine Corps headquarters in Washington confirmed the move to Tbilisi, a city of about 1.1 million people about 40 miles southeast of South Ossetia province, where fighting was heaviest. They offered no details on when the move was made.

Maj. David Nevers, a Marine spokesman in Washington, said no decision had been made on whether the trainers — primarily reservists from Kentucky and New York — would be moved.

“They’re safe and awaiting orders,” Nevers said.

The nine enlisted reserve trainers and one active-duty captain are with 4th Marine Logistics Group, said Capt. Nathan Braden, a MarForRes spokesman. They are primarily assigned to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based 6th Communications Battalion and a Lexington, Ky.-based detachment with 4th MLG’s Military Police Company. The captain is with II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

On Friday, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said 130 U.S. troops and contractors were in Georgia at the time of the attack, to prepare the Georgian forces for their next deployment to Iraq. All were accounted for and uninjured at the time, Whitman said.

Nevers said the Marine trainers were sent to Georgia in June for a rotation in the Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program, a Marine Forces Europe-led program that trains Georgian troops for deployments to Iraq.

But Georgia pulled all of its 2,000 troops from Iraq on Sunday and Monday, raising questions about the program’s immediate future.

Most recently, the Marine trainers had been focusing on teaching military vehicle maintenance and operations to Georgian troops, Nevers said.

In addition to the trainers, there are seven active-duty Marines stationed in Georgia to guard the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi. Their mission would not be affected by whether the Marine trainers left Georgia, Braden said.

DISCUSS: Should the U.S. be involved?

Related reading:

Russia defies truce with Georgia

Marines train Georgians amid tension

Video shows Russian MiG downing Georgian UAV



Mikhail Metzel / The Associated Press Russian tanks enter Tskhinvali, capital of Georgian breakaway enclave of South Ossetia on Aug. 13. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered a halt to military action in Georgia on Aug. 12.

Contests and Promotions

Service Members Of The Year


promo Nominate Someone Today!
Know someone with whom you are proud to serve? Nominate them for a 2010 Military Times Service Members of the Year Award.

FREE AFG or IRQ I Served Sticker


promo Click here so we can send you a FREE AFG or IRQ I Served sticker

Win Military Times Outdoorsman Package


promo ENTER TO WIN...
This rugged package is for the serious outdoorsman and includes a CamelBak Hydration System, CamelBak Impact II CT gloves and more. Click here for more info.

Marketplace

Military Discounts


Save on your purchases!
In honor of your military service, you can find regular and name brand products at a special discount.

Shoplocal

  Shop Local
Local Online Deals
Find the best deals at your local stores.