Virginia Guard Conducts Infantry Tactics Exchange in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducted an infantry tactics exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan's Ministry of Defense Peacekeeping Battalion March 3-8.

The exchange supported the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.

Sgt. 1st Class John Fracker, Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Cook and Staff Sgt. Benjamin Donovan conducted the exchange with the Tajik forces. Maj. Isaac Rivera, the VNG State Partnership Program director, said the group discussed hand and arm signals, military operations in urban terrain and the operations order process.

"The exchange culminated with a field training exercise, where the Soldiers put to test all their skills at a military operation on urbanized terrain site," said Rivera. "The VNG Soldiers shared their ideas, best practices and lessons learned with their Tajik partners."

Fracker, Cook and Donovan shared their impressive combined experience with the Tajik soldiers.

"Together, the three RTI instructors brought decades-worth of experience, six combat deployments and insight into the exchange," said Rivera.

The event was part of a series of exchanges focused on infantry tactics. River said the series will continue in May, when the Tajik forces' top performers travel to Fort Barfoot, Virginia, to train alongside VNG infantry Soldiers.

In July, the VNG and Tajikistan celebrated the 20th anniversary of their formal partnership in the State Partnership Program, which celebrated its 30-year anniversary last year.

Virginia and Tajikistan have shared subject matter expertise throughout 200 military-to-military engagements that help counter terrorism, deter violent extremism, expand emergency response capabilities, develop professionalism and promote shared values in national sovereignty and security.