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Article and photos by VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD
The Tajik Armed Forces enriched its 21-year relationship with U.S. military partners through a series of training events in the first half of 2024 involving engineering, mountain combat, infantry tactics and battlefield communications.
At the beginning of 2024, Virginia National Guard Airmen arrived in Tajikistan to conduct an exercise with Tajik combat engineers and troops with experience in explosive ordnance disposal and border protection.
The partners focused their training on repairing airfield bomb craters that could prevent aircraft from landing. They also practiced erecting defensive positions should an air base come under attack by ground troops.
“The experience allowed us to learn from each other and will make us even better engineers in the future,” Tajik Capt. Amirjon Hojiev said.
In March 2024, Virginia National Guard Soldiers shared infantry skills with troops from the Tajik Ministry of Defense’s Peacekeeping Battalion.
The partners discussed such topics as military operations in urban terrains and hand and arm signals on the battlefield, U.S. Army Maj. Isaac Rivera said.
“The exchange culminated with a field training exercise, where the Soldiers put to test all their skills at a military operation on urbanized terrain site,” Maj. Rivera said. “The Virginia National Guard Soldiers shared their ideas, best practices and lessons learned with their Tajik partners.”
A month later, Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with Tajik military in Romit, nestled in a region west of the capital, Dushanbe.
During the training, U.S. Soldiers practiced mountain warfare operations with Tajik partners from the Ministry of Defense’s Peacekeeping Battalion and the Tajik National Guard. The team trained in knot-tying, rappelling down a 100-meter cliff and building rope bridges.
Around the same time, Tajik participants from five different security and military components, including the Ministry of Defense, Border Patrol, National Guard, Ministry of Interior and the Committee of Emergency Situations, trained with U.S. signals and cyber troops.
A key part of the engagement involved the need for safe, secure and reliable radio communication among troops conducting their missions in the field.
As with the airfield, infantry tactics and the mountain combat exchanges, the communications training supported the U.S. Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program. Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003 and have engaged in more than 200 events together.
Tajik and U.S. leaders capped off these events with a key leader exchange in Dushanbe in May 2024. Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard of Virginia National Guard met with Tajik Brig. Gen. Ismon Shokirzoda, commander of the country’s Mobile Forces.
Lt. Gen. Rajabali Rahmonali, commander of the Tajikistan Border Guard Services, traveled to Virginia to honor U.S. partners with a visit.
“I enjoy the friendships I have made with our Tajik partners,” Brig. Gen. Hubbard said. “They are proud of their independent country and want to improve security for their citizens.”
Since it began in 1993, the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program has grown to include 92 partnerships with 106 nations.