The NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) is one of the 15 initiatives of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package adopted at the NATO Summit in Wales, in August 2014, as part of the NATO Defence Capabilities Initiative. In May 2015, the working group of the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) was created, and in August 2015, the Center was inaugurated in Krtsanisi with the participation of the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. The NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center was established as a structural entity in May 2016.
The functions of the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) include supporting Georgia to strengthen, reform, modernize and transform the defence and security sector, as well as to improve the interoperability of the Georgian defence forces with NATO. The Center also helps Georgia advance in its preparations for eventual NATO membership, make its own contribution to strengthening regional stability and become a leading regional center.
The main task of the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center is to conduct field training and command-staff training exercises, training and evaluation of the Georgian Defence Forces, units of NATO and partner countries, in order to ensure the strengthening of Georgia’s defence capabilities and improve interoperability with NATO standards.
NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center consists of 4 subordinate centers:
Command and Staff Training Center – Plans and conducts command and staff exercises at battalion- and brigade-level in both national and multinational environments using the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulations (JCATS) system. NATO-Georgia training in 2019 was planned and conducted mainly with the use of the Center’s resources. The Center was established in 2009 and operates with the help of the United States “Valiant” group and experts from various NATO countries.
Combat Training Center – The Center is responsible for the implementation of the Georgia Defence Readiness Program, which was officially launched on 18 May 2018 and was based in the Vaziani training area. Within the framework of the Center and the programme , all infantry battalions will be trained to strengthen their defence capabilities. Georgian instructors from the Combat Training Center, as well as servicemen of the United States European Command (EUCOM) take part in the training and preparation process.
Peace Operations Training Center – Since 2009, jointly with the United States Marines, the Peace Operations Training Center has been leading the pre-deployment training of peacekeeping units of the Georgian Defence Forces. 23 subdivisions have so far been trained by the Center (training duration: 4 months). Besides the Resolute Support Mission, the Center also provides training for units to be deployed to the Central African Republic.
Training Evaluation Center – Responsible for combat readiness of Georgian Defence Forces at the level of squads, platoons and companies. It also trains observers/controller-instructors of the Georgian Defence Forces.