KRTSANISI, Republic of Georgia -- Gunnery Sgt. Nathan J. Guidry, the Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program communications chief and a native of Houma, La., is training 16 Republic of Georgia soldiers to be communications trainers Aug. 29- Dec. 9, here with interim help from retired Gunnery Sgt. David J. Moose, a Harris Corp. technical trainer and native of Bath, N.Y.
Guidry taught classes on radio communication (talking) procedures, which differ from an average phone conversation during the month of September and will continue instruction until completion of the GSSOP mission. Moose gave instruction on the operation and function of the radio and basic radio-to-radio call function checks Sept. 19-30.
“They’re basically getting everything you would get in Marine Corps boot camp and then some, because we’re teaching them our experience, not just the knowledge that comes out of the book,” said Guidry.
“They’re very receptive to the training. They love it. They’re very interested and very impressed with it,” he emphasized.
The GSSOP trained 22nd Light Infantry Battalion troops will form part of the dedicated force called for in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546 to protect U.N. forces serving in Iraq.
The GSSOP mission is to assist and enhance Georgia’s military capability to sustain its contribution to the effort in Iraq. The communications training is part of the GSSOP mission.
“It’s our job to come in and train them to use these new radios,” said Moose.
According to Guidry, the 22nd Battalion will receive a full complement of radios, worth approximately $1.6 million, under the program.
Guidry outlined the training the Georgian soldiers will apply in using the radios.
“The first three weeks I had them every day for two hours before they had to go to their other training,” Guidry said.
“I teach them radio procedures, message trafficking, formats, field expedient antennas,” Guidry said. “I go into everything that they’re going to need to use in a military operation or exercise.”
Conversational flow using proper radio procedures is a skill that requires some practice, according to Moose. “Getting on a radio is kind of like riding a bike. You just can’t get on and start talking and think you’re going to be an expert.”
Moose trained the soldiers for two weeks in the use of both High Frequency and Very High Frequency radios.
“You start off with the basic theory of operations, with how HF works. We use HF in the military for high frequency long range communications. You’re generally talking on that radio from 200 to 2,000 miles. The VHF radios you’re talking short range, maybe three to 15 miles maximum, depending on the power and the antenna you use,” Moose explained.
Once they understand the basic theory the training builds upon itself in stages, according to Moose.
“Basically taking someone who has never touched a radio before or seen a computer and teaching them how to take the most sophisticated HF radios in the world and train them on it and also on the VHF handheld radios.” Moose said.
“Just like the old crawl-walk-run, you show them what a frequency is, how you program a frequency and different modes of operation,” he continued.
“The HF radio that they train with here is the exact same radio that the U.S. military has,” he added. The only difference between U.S. radios and the Georgians’ new radios is that U.S. radios have additional encryption devices.
Moose stated he was impressed by how well the Georgian soldiers adapted to the training. “You’ve got people here who will take the radios back with them at night and actually do this stuff until midnight every night. That’s impressive. That shows dedication.”
Guidry also noticed the Georgian soldiers’ enthusiasm. “They believe in practice-makes-perfect. That’s why they take them home at night and practice with them,” Guidry elaborated.
This was not the first time Moose and Guidry worked together. However, the last time they worked together Moose had shorter hair and wore a uniform. The two served together in the 8th Communications Battalion from 2000 to 2003.
Moose served on active-duty from 1984-2004 and was the communications chief with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade during the invasion of Iraq.
Moose began working for Harris Corp. after he retired from the Marine Corps. “I went on terminal leave for 90 days and started working. For me to get a job doing what I’ve done for 20 years is exceptional.”
In addition to the communications training, the Georgian soldiers have received infantry training from other GSSOP Task Force members in areas such as infantry tactics, land navigation, marksmanship, and first aid as part of the GSSOP.
The extensive four-month training the 22nd Battalion is receiving will help them accomplish their mission in Iraq.