DOD EXERCISE "NOBLE PARTNER" BEGINS IN THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

Right:  American paratroopers from Troop C, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment 173rd Airborne Brigade arrive at Joint Aviation Base Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, May 8, 2015. The paratroopers were welcomed by Republic of Georgia soldiers during a small ceremony. The paratroopers arrived from Grafenwoehr, Germany, to train alongside other U.S. soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and Georgian Land Forces troops in Exercise Noble Partner. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Cole.  

Eucom, Georgia Join for Exercise ‘Noble Partner’
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2015 – The Defense Department announced today the start of Exercise “Noble Partner” between U.S. European Command and the Republic of Georgia, which will assist in fulfilling troop commitments to the NATO Response Force.

During a press availability session with Pentagon reporters, DoD spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren explained the exercise’s intent.

“Today, Eucom kicks off Exercise ‘Noble Partner,’” Warren said, “which will be held at a training area in the Republic of Georgia and will run through [May 24].”

Critical Training

This exercise “is a critical part of Georgia’s training for their contribution of a light infantry company to the NATO Response Force,” Warren said.

According to the colonel, a total of approximately 600 military personnel are participating in the exercise.

Of those 600, Warren said, 200 are American soldiers, including “Sky Soldiers” from the U.S. Army’s Vicenza, Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade, as well as “Dog-Faced” soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, which will serve as the Army’s continental U.S.-based contribution to the NATO Response Force.

Focusing on Unified Land Operations

“This exercise will focus on unified land operations,” he said, “and will include a field training exercise and a live-fire exercise.”

Warren noted Bradley Fighting Vehicles involved in the training exercise are the same vehicles he announced two weeks ago were being transported across the Black Sea via ferry.

U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION GRANT TO STRENGTHEN LABOR LAWS IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT 
Project to improve compliance with labor laws in the Democratic 
Republic of Georgia awarded $2M grant by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $2 million grant award to improve compliance with labor laws in the Democratic Republic of Georgia. The grant provides funding for a project that will be developed and implemented through a cooperative agreement between the department and the International Labour Organization.
The project will improve the government's ability to enforce labor laws and adhere to international labor standards. It will also help worker organizations be more effective when representing workers' rights and interests to the government, employers and courts.

Since 1995, ILAB has worked with other governments and international organizations to identify assistance that countries may require to improve the labor conditions of their workers. ILAB's Office of Trade and Labor Affairs currently provides approximately $76 million in technical assistance to improve worker rights, livelihoods and labor law compliance in more than 72 countries around the world.