On 29th April- 1st May Lithuanian Armed Forces are having national exercises ‘Lightning Strike 2017' where Peacetime Operation Forces is training with the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) in the regions of territorial units of Vilnius and Varėna situated near border with Russia and Belarus.
‘National defence is common responsibility for all armed forces, therefore it is of high importance to be ready for concord operation with each other' - emphasized the head of the exercises ‘Lightning Strike 2017', chief of Joint Staff of Lithuanian Armed Forces General Major Vitalijus Vaikšnoras.
In order to avoid real border control disruption and misunderstandings between other states border guard officers, incidents according to the scenario of the exercises will be organized in the depth of Lithuania, i.e. several km from the real State border.
According to the scenario of the exercises, number of various incidents related to the national security at the borderland was increasing, for this reason Peacetime Operation Forces of Lithuanian Armed Forces will be invoked to enhance Lithuanian border security.
Peacetime Operation Forces, operating since early morning of 29th April, reinforced the State Border Guard Service and began patrols with SBGS officers in the borderlands.
Joint exercises of Peacetime Operation Forces and the State Border Guard Service will be proceeding until Monday, 1st May. Afterwards, actions of the exercises will relocate to the cities of Vilkaviškis and Marijampolė, where Rapid Reactions Forces of Lithuanian Armed Forces will be training.
One of the major Lithuanian Armed Forces national exercises this year ‘Lightning Strike 2017' (28th April - 7th May) is taking place in the eastern part of the country, in the municipalities of Marijampolė and Vilkaviškis. There will be training Peacetime Operation Forces and Rapid Reaction Forces with their supporting units in the case of hybrid threats. It also aims that national forces would be ready for unconventional challenges and act independently for some time, until allied support would reach the country.
More about the exercises: http://bit.ly/2oiahfG
Peacetime Operations Forces
During the peacetime Lithuanian Armed Forces execute tasks in order to support civil authorities in the course of emergency situations. For this purpose Peacetime Operation Forces are invoked, where almost 1000 troops are on duty this year. These forces are combined of Land, Naval, Air and Special Forces. The majority of them - 700 are from Land Force Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion. They are supported by troops from Juozas Vitkus Engineer and King Mindaugas hussar Battalions as well as National Defence Volunteer Forces. Peacetime Operation Forces were established in 2009, while on duty started in 2010.
About ‘Lightning Strike 2017' scenario
Various threats from hybrid war to terrorist attacks will be modelled during the course of the exercises. According to the scenario of ‘Lightning Strike 2017' unknown armed subversive groups will be posing unrest and riots in the cities, also trying to occupy local administrative objects. If units of the Ministry of Interior will not have enough capacities to suppress these unrests, Rapid Reaction Forces will be used, which should stabilize the situation. Moreover, various incidents will be simulated on the streets and other public areas in order to practice providing proper city residents security.
Timeline of exercises ‘Lightning Strike 2017‘
29th April - 1th May
According to the scenario of the exercises, number of different incidents related to the security of the country increased at Lithuanian border sections. Due to this, state border guard control is enhanced by invoking Peacetime Operation Forces which cooperates with officers from the State Border Guard Service (SBGS). Exercises proceed in the cordons of SBGS territorial units from Pagėgiai, Vilnius and Varėna.
1th May
Cities of Marijampolė and Vilkaviškis is announced as military operation areas, where Rapid Reaction Forces arrival is planned. Around 800 soldiers with machinery from Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion will be dislocating in Vilkaviškis, while other 800 troops from Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Rukla (Jonava mun.) will be dislocating in Marijampolė.
2-6th May
Joint military operations will be carried out in the cities, where blank ammunition and pyrotechnics are utilized. On the ground citizens will be seeing patrolling armed Lithuanian Armed Forces troops with military machinery (M113 armored personnel carriers) while above them Air Force helicopters will be also participating in the exercises.
5th May
Partial mobilization exercises. Training of tasks in the case of mobilization is conducted: for training purposes 12 conscription stations will be established, where reserve troops who performed military service in 2000-2012 and were retired are invited to arrive.
6th May
Visitors and Media day. Rapid Reaction Forces and other units will be executing various joint operations.
Information for media
Media representatives who are willing to prepare material about the exercises are invited to register to public relations officer captain Tomas Pakalniškis (email: prt14pio@gmail.com, tel.: +370 657 61271).
Media representatives must have identity document and document proving representation of media sort.
Freelance journalists, and individuals preparing public information without contract with the media, as well as foreign journalists representing media must have accreditation issued by the Ministry of National Defence.
Photos by sergeant major Lina Ambroževičiūtė
