Tbilisi, Georgia (AP) -- An army captain from Columbus is among the group of U.S. Military Trainers helping the Georgia Military.

Jeff Barta says the Georgian soldiers they knew who were sent to battle the Russians had fighting spirit but were not ready for war.

The 31-year-old Barta helped train a Georgian brigade for peacekeeping service in Iraq. Trainers started with the basics of infantry warfare -- shooting, taking cover, advancing -- then on to squad and platoon maneuvers.

Barta says some soldiers seemed really grateful for what they were taught. But he acknowledged it wasn't nearly enough. For example, the Georgian company commander who was training alongside Barta was killed.

The trainers are now on standby at the sheraton hotel in Tblisi, unarmed and in civilian clothes.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)