DUSHANBE, Tajikistan –
Three Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with members of the Tajik military April 21 - 25, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003.
The VaARNG team was composed of Capt. Gavin Steel and Sgt. Joseph Lanagan, who are assigned other the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Sgt. 1st Class Sydney Mapp, assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion.
The exchange focused on developing and refining mountain warfare fundamentals, while fostering collaboration between U.S. and Tajik forces. A total of 25 Tajik participants, representing four different organizations of the nation’s defense forces, took part in the training. Ranks ranged from junior officers to senior lieutenant colonels.
Training took place over five days of progressive instruction on a Tajik training base located outside of Dushanbe. The exchange began with classroom instruction on mountain tactical movements. From there, participants learned some basic rope fundamentals that assisted them in negotiating challenging terrain through the use of rappelling and hauling techniques.
The last day of the exchange focused on 12-man squad-level operations and execution of a deliberate linear ambush to include tactical movement to the target location through mountainous terrain.
“This exchange marked another successful event in the ongoing partnership, delivering tactical knowledge and experience as well as key technical skills for safely moving through mountainous terrain for Tajik defense forces,” said Maj. Isaac Rivera, the VNG’s SPP coordinator. “The training exchange gives us valuable insight as to how a country whose geography is 90% mountains operates in this challenging domain while the Virginia Soldiers were able to place a more technical focus on the training."
This event reinforces the growing military-to-military relationship between the Virginia Army National Guard and Tajikistan, promoting regional stability and long-term cooperation.
In July 2023, the VNG and Tajikistan celebrated the 20th anniversary of their formal partnership in the State Partnership Program, which itself just celebrated its 30-year anniversary. The relationship has benefitted all parties, 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.
Read more about the VNG’s partnership with Tajikistan at https://vngpao.info/4k3xhwfv.