US military instructors begin training Georgian tank battalion

US military instructors have begun training a Georgian tank battalion. The Georgian Defense Ministry told Rosbalt that 250 troops are taking part in the training, which is part of the US military assistance program Train and Equip. The program has already cost the US government USD 70 million.

The program is scheduled to end this April. The goal of the program is to train approximately 3 thousand Georgian troops. Interim Georgian President Nino Burdjanadze said, however, that the program will be expanded because it has been so successful. It is worth noting that training uses Russian-made military equipment.