On October 29 mechanised infantry company of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Battalion deployed to Dravsko Pomorskie Training Range in Poland where their training for the largest NATO Response Force exercise STEADFAST JAZZ (SFJZ) 2013 within a multinational unit has already begun.
Lithuania has deployed approximately 140 troops to take part in Exercise STEADFAST JAZZ 2013 at Dravsko Pomorskie Training Range in a multinational unit alongside NATO member states' and partners' forces. Lithuanian military of General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion and the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces who will serve with the Joint and Tactical Air Control Parties have been already deployed to the same location too.
"All our troops have already deployed to the exercise site and are training to complete concrete tasks at their level. Our unit will be prepared to complete battalion-level operations by the weekend, when the exercise begins," commander of the Lithuanian company 1LT Egidijus Čiulada said.
Mechanised materiel of the Lithuanian company and weaponry of personnel was transported to Dravsko Pomorskie Training Range from Lithuania in advance, so troops were able to take up training for integration exercise as soon as they deployed. Lithuanian unit settled in a tent village installed by Polish military next to other elements of the multinational battalion.
On November 2 through 9 NATO will hold a joint exercise with partner nations STEADFAST JAZZ 2013. The event will conclude a series of dynamic and demanding NATO Response Force (NRF) exercises meant to certify NRF military personnel and command staff.
The exercise will include the total of 300 Lithuanian troops deployed throughout exercise sites in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway. The 140-strong Lithuanian company will take part in land live exercise (LIVEX) in composition of a multinational unit at Dravsko Pomorskie Training Range of Poland's Armed Forces. Lithuanian military assigned to the Joint and Tactical Air Control Parties will be deployed to the same training site in Poland. 10 Lithuanian staff officers and civilians will join the exercise from NATO's Joint Force Command Brunssum headquarters and exercise control element installed in Adazi Training Range, Latvia. Two more staff officers will be deployed to NATO's Joint Warfare Centre in Norway. Furthermore, Lithuanian military will be ensuring host nation support (HNS) to an Italian-led NRF Special Operations Forces HQ deployed to Pabradės Training Area of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Official website of Exercise STEADFAST JAZZ 2013: http://aco.nato.int/steadfast-jazz.aspx
Information on Exercise STEADFAST JAZZ 2013 at the official website of the Lithuanian Armed Forces: http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/international_military_exercises/steadfast_jazz_2013_en/
POC at Dravsko Pomorskie Training Range (Poland): PV2 Vilius Džiavečka, email: viliusdziavecka@gmail.com, mobile phone no.: +37069987591
POC for NATO exercise in Lithuania: PR Officer of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces 1LT Žilvinas Zakarauskas, phone no. 00370 5 211 3902, 00370 698 02 290.
