A large contingent of Georgia Army National Guard soldiers flew to the Republic of Georgia on Sunday for joint military exercises at a time when tension is brewing in the region.

The soldiers, mostly from the metro area, will be part of "Immediate Response 2008," which will amount to the largest U.S. footprint on the crossroads of Asia and Europe since the Cold War began.

The three-week operation also provides practical training for the 48th Infantry Brigade's 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment just months before a pending deployment to Afghanistan.

"We're going to a sensitive part of the world," said Atlanta's Maj. Matt Smith, 36, who took over command of 1-121 just last month.

"There has been significant geopolitical activity but it's not our role to upset it," Smith said. "It will be a unique environment, a unique opportunity."

Last week, Russian fighter jets entered Georgian airspace and Georgia recalled its ambassador from Moscow.

Georgia blames the Kremlin for supporting separatist movements in two breakaway regions. Moscow accuses Georgia, now the third largest coalition partner in Iraq, of being too pro-Western and opposes NATO membership for Georgia.

The state of Georgia has a partnership with the country of Georgia and regularly sends military contingents for training purposes. This exercise is separate from that program, though the existing relationship propelled the decision to take Georgia guardsmen.

The 325 soldiers from Winder, Covington, Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Milledgeville would otherwise have headed to Fort Stewart or another U.S. military base for annual training.

"The whole Georgia to Georgia thing never gets old," Smith said. "Everyone gets a chuckle out of it."

The Georgia infantry battalion returned from a 12-month tour of Iraq in April 2006 and is scheduled to leave for Afghanistan next summer with the 48th Brigade to train the Afghan National Army.

In "Immediate Response," they will conduct tactical and procedural training alongside Georgian soldiers — everything from exhausting road marches to combat lifesaver medical classes to marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat. They will also participate in mock war situations.

The larger aim of the annual exercise is to help break down barriers raised by the Cold War. The exercise will involve a reserve Marine battalion from Ohio as well as representatives from Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Smith said Georgia will serve as rehearsal for Afghanistan, forcing his soldiers to hone communication skills in the absence of a common language and work alongside citizens of other nations.

Smith said he is looking forward to the trip for two other reasons.

Getting down and dirty with the soldiers will help the new commander get a groove. But more importantly, Smith joked, he's looking forward to eating traditional meat dumplings and enjoying some old-fashioned Georgian hospitality.

"We've never been welcomed [so warmly] other than in Normandy."