DUSHANBE, Tajikistan –
Three Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted an urban patrolling operations exchange with members of the Tajik military May 4 - 8, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Back in Virginia, the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute hosted similar training for a different group of Tajik troops May 11 - 22, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
The engagements were 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 in Finland was composed of Capt. Calvin Burns, Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Donovan and Sgt. 1st Class David Granfield, all assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Trining Institute.
The exchange focused on developing and refining urban operations fundamentals, while fostering collaboration between U.S. and Tajik forces. A total of 16 Tajik participants representing three 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,” said Donovan. “The exchange began with classroom instruction on tactical patrol movements in an urban environment. From there, participants learned basic breaching, entering and clearing a room and finally a building.”
The last day of the exchange focused on 16-man squad-level operation and execution of a tactical movement through urban terrain, while utilizing overwatch positions, to conduct a direct action raid.
A few days and thousands of miles later a different set of Tajik forces trained on patrolling operations from May 11 - 22 at Fort Pickett, Virginia, hosted by the 183rd RTI. During the training, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Ambassador Zavqi Zavqizoda, Tajikistan’s ambassador to the U.S., and Pirumsho Valizoda, Deputy Chief of Mission, visited the training, observing operations and thanking both the Tajiks and RTI instructors for their hard work.
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.