On March 27 Adjutant General of Pennsylvania Major General John R. Pippy paid a visit to the Lithuanian Land Force Headquarters on the margins of the Baltic Military Conference.
The guest was briefed by Lithuanian Land Force Commander Brigadier General Artūras Radvilas on the development and action plans of the currently formed national 1st Division particularly emphasizing the modernization aspect of it, as well as strengthening of the defensive capabilities and collaboration with the Allies.
Generals discussed the cooperation already spanning several decades, regional security situation, threat assessment and measures of strengthening collective defence. Other topics addressed at the meeting were the deterrence strategy of the Alliance, training of Allied troops in joint exercises and strengthening of the enduring cooperation between the Lithuanian Land Force and PANG.
The Pennsylvania National Guard which Lithuania has a longstanding close partnership with is one of the largest and oldest guards in the U.S. defence system. Lithuania and the PANG have been engaging through the ambitious State Partnership Program for over 30 years. Since 204 Lithuanian and U.S. military personnel have been training in joint exercises together, the armies, air forces and national guards of the U.S. and Lithuania maintain intense collaboration, joint cyber defence projects are developed. PANG military personnel were part of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor (Afghanistan) in 2009-2012. The relevance of the partnership made a leap in 2019 when the Lithuanian Land Force and the 28th Division signed an agreement on the intent of developing a division-level command and control capability. The PANG Aviation centre of Excellence has been providing training for Lithuanian pilots and ground maintenance specialists since Lithuania’s decision to purchase the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
Information and photo credits: Land Force
