U.S., Georgia partnership strengthens military mental health, resilience Published April 8, 2026 By Maj. Tilli Ghale USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon TBILISI, Georgia -- In a world where readiness depends as much on mental resilience as military capability, the United States and Georgia are investing together in the strength of their forces. As part of a comprehensive mental health engagement from March 2-6, experts from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Europe-Middle East (WRAIR-EME) and Global Health Engagements (GHE) Branch from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Command Surgeon’s Office collaborated with the Georgian Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Embassy to advance mental readiness and force health protection. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gwynne Kinley‑Way, WRAIR-EME director, stated that the exchange provided a critical platform for sharing best practices on topics essential for maintaining a ready and resilient force. “It is gratifying to be part of this exchange, which covered topics such as mental health training for medics, a peer-to-peer intervention for acute stress reaction, sleep health, resilience, grief management, and medical awareness of CBRN events,” said Dr. Amy Adler, WRAIR senior scientist. U.S. Army Maj. Josue Nunez, WRAIR social work researcher, highlighted the engagement’s clinical focus, “The BH GEAR mental health training is designed to provide our Georgian counterparts with practical strategies to further leverage their medics as mental health extenders, enhancing their ability to identify, assess and intervene in mental health concerns within far-forward operational environments.” The Georgian participants included both mental health professionals and experienced commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Dr. Giorgi Gergauli, head of the Psychological Selection Section, Psychological Support Division, under the Georgian MOD, explained the evidence-based knowledge and extensive experience from the WRAIR team will significantly enhance their psychological support services and help them implement new approaches. “Through an engaging and interactive format, we gained in-depth insights into modern methods for acute stress reaction management, sleep leadership and crisis psychological interventions,” added Gergauli. Georgian Defence Force Sgt. Maj. George Bregvadze, Joint Training and Evaluation Center, emphasized the importance of mental health awareness in the military environment. “The knowledge gained will be integrated into educational and training programs of the Georgian Defence Forces, including basic combat training, career courses for officers and NCOs, and training for military medics,” Bregvadze said. Georgian Defence Forces Col. Jaba Kvashilava, head of Preventive Medicine Division, Medical Department, noted a broader impact, “We are delighted to welcome our U.S. partners, and exchanges of this nature strengthen our partnership, operational readiness, and interoperability.” U.S. Air Force Col. Joel Foster, USAFE-AFAFRICA GHE branch chief, explained, “The mental health and resiliency knowledge exchange this week was a phenomenal success. The event marks another milestone in the strong partnership between the United States and Georgia, which has continued to grow for more than a decade.” By the conclusion of the event, GDF enhanced their mental health and force health protection capabilities, and both nations reinforced their long-standing partnership. By combining expertise, experience and a shared vision for resilient forces, the U.S. and Georgia are shaping a more prepared, adaptive and mentally ready military for the challenges ahead.