In this issue of The ISG Heron: Institute Resident Advisors are congratulated for receiving the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, ISG welcomes new, key team members, ICB work around the world is highlighted, a Standing Ovation for an outstanding Advising Principal is given, and many more newsworthy developments.

DIILS engaged with senior officials from the LAF.

DIILS participated in the Black Sea Maritime Forum in Bucharest, Romania.

This past month, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service to Headquarters, United States Central Command and select subordinate units. We are proud to announce that included among the ranks of those awarded were eight Institute for Security Governance Resident Advisors, who were deployed in region at the time and contributed to the mission. Bravo Zulu!

The current buildup of Russian military forces near Ukraine and the prospect of imminent Russian aggression portends serious security concerns for other democratic nations in the region that similarly aspire to gain membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Like Ukraine, Georgia is a former Soviet republic bordering the Russian Federation. Georgia seeks to join the community of Euro-Atlantic democracies, not only as a means of strengthening its own security, but to contribute to regional security requirements as well. Indeed, Georgian military forces have participated in several NATO-led operations, including the Kosovo Force (KFOR), International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and the maritime operations Active Endeavor and Sea Guardian.

A DIILS team traveled to Bogota, Colombia in late January to conduct a military justice engagement with Colombia’s Military Justice Special Administrative Unit (JPM-SAU).