On June 11 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius met with Maj Gen Wesley Craig, Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, a close partner of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, in Kairių Training Area of the Lithuanian Armed Forces near Klaipėda.
During the meeting the top-ranking officers discussed service of Lithuanian troops and members of the Pennsylvania National Guard in the common mission in Afghanistan, the possibilities of expanding bilateral cooperation in the military training area via searching for new ways of efficient exchange of experience through remote training. Perspectives of conducting joint military exercises in a wider context, including the training areas of artillery anti-tank capabilities and NBC countermeasures, was also addressed.
Maj Gen W. Craig has been a work visit in Lithuania from June 11 to June 16 with a focus on units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the combat training they undergo, and the contribution they make to multinational operations and projects. The key aim of the visit was to discuss the possibilities of further development and directions of bilateral cooperation.
During the visit the US representatives also met with Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė, Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force. Maj Gen W.Craig also paid a visit to General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy, Division General Stasys Raštikis NCO School of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Kaunas and in the Motorised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Rukla (Jonava Distr.).
Another point on Maj Gen W. Craig's visit schedule was the observation of the amphibious landing operation, a part of the multinational Exercise BALTOPS 2012.
The U.S. sponsored State Partnership Program involves 22 European countries. Lithuania has been a member of the Program since 1993 through active cooperation with the Pennsylvania National Guard. The Pennsylvania National Guard provides courses and training for the representatives of the Lithuanian armed Forces, delegates instructors and observers to take part in military training are events held in Lithuania. Lithuanian military personnel s also sent to participate in military exercises and instructor training program, and other events in Pennsylvania. Troops of the Pennsylvania National Guard also serve with the Lithuanian-led Police Mentoring Team deployed in the province of Ghor, Afghanistan.
