On September 2 Lithuanian and U.S. military engineers cooperatively completing assignments at the Gaižiūnai Training Area were visited by three United States Congress Members, Charles Dent, Barbara Lee and Linda Sanchez, and Deputy Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division deployed in Germany Brigadier General Timothy Daugherty.
Since August 26 Alpha Company, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade and soldiers of Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion are carrying out joint tasks with primary focus being joint combat training and improvement of infrastructure at the Gaižiūnai Training Area. U.S. military have already began installing a drop-zone with their engineering equipment.
Members of the U.S. Congress were interested not only in the tasks carried out by U.S. troops but also in the equipment operated by Lithuanian military engineers. Congressman Charles Dent was interested in the MV-10 Double Tool Mine Clearance System used by Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, routine mine neutralisation assignments and the amount of mines detected in the territory of Lithuania. Congressman welcomed teamwork of Lithuanian and U.S .soldiers and wished them success in their service.
U.S. troops will be carrying out joint assignments with soldiers of Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion till mid-October and will train in the largest engineer exercise this year Engineer Thunder 2015. Along with completion of routine tasks side by side with Lithuanian military engineer U.S. colleagues will also provide support to Lithuanian infantry units during Hunter 2015, an anti-rank units exercise.
Article and photo credits: Captain Irmantas Genevičius, Head of S5 Section, Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion Headquarters, Lithuanian Land Force
