DUSHANBE, Tajikistan –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group, including the Gate City-based 1030th Transportation Battalion, conducted logistics and military decision making process exchanges with the Republic of Tajikistan May 8-12, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
The VNG team on the mission was composed of subject matter experts including three officers, three noncommissioned officers and one warrant officer. They worked with their Tajik partners to improve supply, maintenance management and western style military operations planning.
“As part of the exchange, the team worked through a ‘crawl’ operational planning scenario involving offensive and defensive maneuvers, which challenged critical and creative thinking abilities,” said Maj. Eric Johnson, the officer in charge of the professional development exchange.
In July, the VNG and Tajikistan will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their formal partnership in the State Partnership Program. The relationship has benefitted from sharing subject matter expertise throughout 200 military-to-military engagements that help counter terrorism, deter violent extremism, expand emergency response capabilities, develop professionalism among leaders and staffs and promote shared values in national sovereignty and security.
“I hope that we can build on what we both learned in this exchange and continue to build our interoperability,” said Lt. Col. Jason Detwiler, the officer in charge of the mission.
The Tajik participants in the exchange came with various levels of experience, from mid-level officers to career officers that were experts in their career fields.
“We are grateful for the Virginia National Guard and your continued support through this exchanges,” said Lt. Col. Izatullozoda Rivojiddin, Deputy for Logistics for the Ministry of Defense. “We enjoyed learning many new things and hope you learned just as much from us as we learned from you.”
The two organizations have made vital contributions to regional stability and security across Central and South Asia, executing bi-lateral and multi-lateral engagements with international partners; enhancing multinational understanding and shared values of peace, national sovereignty and global security.
Read more about the State Partnership Program and the VNG’s relationship with the Republic of Tajikistan at https://ngpa.us/24494.