U.S. Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Kris, Garrison Support Command, Vermont Army National Guard, successfully graduated from the Basic Mountain Training Summer Course (BMTSC) at the Sachkhere Mountain Training School, held from May 26 to June 15, 2024. The course was hosted by the Sachkhere Mountain Training School, under the leadership of Colonel Besik Kutateladze, as part of the Partnership Training and Education Centre in Georgia.

The BMTSC, nestled in the picturesque Georgian mountains, is renowned for providing comprehensive training in basic movement and rescue techniques. The course equips participants with the essential skills required for organized search and rescue operations. The training includes the use of mountain equipment, navigating planned routes, locating pre-identified positions, conducting evacuations of injured personnel, climbing on both artificial and natural rock formations, river crossing, and overnight survival in the mountains, with movements reaching elevations up to 2,400 meters.

Lt. Kris, alongside his international peers, demonstrated exceptional proficiency in these challenging and demanding conditions. The completion of this course signifies not only a personal achievement for Lt. Kris but also strengthens the collaborative military partnership between the Vermont National Guard and Georgia.

The Sachkhere Mountain Training School continues to play a crucial role in the Partnership for Peace program, fostering greater understanding and coordination among allied and partner nations through rigorous and specialized training programs like the BMTSC. Lt. Kris' completion of the course highlights not only his personal achievment but the Vermont National Guard's commitment to mountain training readiness.