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Photo by Larry Simmons/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. David L. Crickard is an acting platoon commander who traveled to the Republic of Georgia to participate in "Immediate Response 08," an exercise designed to improve understanding and strengthen regional cooperation.

Photo by Jonathan Herring/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

At a rifle range, U.S. Marines observe as Georgian soldiers fire American M-4 rifles.

Photo by Larry Simmons/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

An American soldier, left, directs U.S. Marines and Georgian soldiers to an American Blackhawk helicopter during simulated medical evacuation procedural training.

Photo by Michael Tolzmann/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

During their stay in Georgia, American service members were familiarized with Georgian weapons. Here a Georgian soldier, right, gives American soldiers a hands-on learning experience with Georgian weapons.

Photo by Michael Tolzmann/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

During an exercise ceremony, a Georgian Orthodox priest blesses Georgian soldiers by splashing them with holy water.

Photo by Larry Simmons/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

Georgian soldiers, right, gather in a formation with their American soldier counterparts, who hail from the State of Georgia Army National Guard. The Georgia Army National Guard has a partnership relationship with the Georgian army.

Photo by Michael Tolzmann/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

At Vaziani military base, Georgia, U.S. Marines assault a building occupied by a simulated group of terrorists.

Photo by Michael Tolzmann/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

At the closing ceremony for exercise Immediate Response 08, a color guard is combined with Georgian soldiers, left, with American Marines and soldiers who carried the flags of the countries who were represented during the training event.

Photo by Michael Tolzmann/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

Vaziani military base, Georgia, was once a Soviet base, and is located approximately 20 miles from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. Here American soldiers and Marines maneuver near what was once a Soviet airport.

Photo by Larry Simmons/Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

The city of Tbilisi, Georgia, is an ancient city dating more than 1,500 years.