On April 11 in Ukmergė, the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ 1st Division was presented with its combat flag, and the largest units of the Land Forces were transferred to it. From this day forward, the division includes the Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade and the Žemaitija Infantry Brigade named after Grand Hetman of Lithuania Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, as well as the Colonel Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion.
“The latest exercises in Germany clearly demonstrated that the headquarters of Lithuania’s national division has achieved initial operational capability. This means we are already capable of independently planning and executing operations, integrating divisional enablers, and operating alongside allies as part of a corps. Today, by integrating both brigades into the division from previously fragmented capabilities, we are transitioning to unified combat power. This progress has been significantly supported by the Pennsylvania National Guard, the U.S. Army V Corps, and NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast—we thank them for their mentorship, training opportunities, and support,” said Chief of Defence of Lithuania, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
The transfer of military units under the division’s command followed more than a year of work by the headquarters of the re-established unit—personnel were prepared, procedures updated, and preparations made to receive and command military units. This year, the headquarters’ year-long effort was concluded during the “Warfighter 26-3” exercises held in Germany and organized by the United States, where the division headquarters’ ability to independently and jointly plan and conduct operations with allies was evaluated and officially confirmed.
“For the Land Forces, this represents another step upward—enabling the division to operate in the land domain together with other formations: providing combat and combat service support; coordinating operations between territorial defence forces, the division, and allies; and in peacetime, ensuring the level of military readiness set by the Chief of Defence,” said Commander of the Land Forces, Brigadier General Nerijus Stankevičius.
The unit, strengthened by its main brigades, will continue to be developed: the 1st Division will also be reinforced by the newly forming Aukštaitija Brigade, as well as air defence, artillery, and engineer regiments. Existing brigades will be supplemented with tank and infantry fighting vehicle battalions—all of which will provide the Lithuanian Armed Forces with qualitatively and quantitatively superior warfare capabilities compared to those previously available.
“Soldiers serving in the division have consistently strengthened their skills through joint training with the U.S. V Corps, NATO Multinational Corps Northeast, Germany’s 1st and 10th Divisions, and the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Division. We have the necessary military knowledge and skills to continue our work. We are ready to receive and operate newly acquired weaponry, equipment, and emerging technologies—from unmanned systems to capabilities that enhance our firepower and battlefield management. From today, the insignia of the 1st Division becomes our symbol of quality—a standard of discipline, readiness, and combat power,” said Brigadier General Aurelijus Alasauskas, Commander of the 1st Division, during the ceremony.
The need to develop national divisions within NATO countries as the primary tactical unit was officially raised at the 2022 NATO Madrid Summit and, in Lithuania, approved in May 2023 by the State Defence Council after assessing threats and responding to NATO’s regional defence plans. The newly formed national division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will be one of the key factors, together with allies, in defending Lithuania’s land territory. Having a national division will allow the Lithuanian Armed Forces to operate in an integrated manner with other NATO divisions, with equivalent capabilities in maneuver, fire support, logistics, intelligence, and more.
Photo credits: srž. sp. Karolis Kavolėlis
