On March 19 the multinational field training exercise Allied Spirit 2025 organized by the U.S. Army wrapped in Germany. Over nearly a month on exercise, the Lithuania military personnel numbering 1600 in the main training audience, over 3000 troops of 9 NATO Allied and Partner nations were intensely training planning and execution of wide-scale military operations.
Maintaining constant interaction with combat, support and logistical units of NATO Allies, members of the IB Griffin and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion were engaged in an uninterrupted process of planning and execution of active defence and assault operations in forested and urban areas in demonstration of their competence and readiness for difficult combat conditions.
Commander of the Infantry Brigade Griffin Col Viktoras Bagdonas noted describing the exercise that “the active phase has concluded. The exercise, though, runs until the soldiers are back at their home bases. The past ten days challenged us to the maximum psychologically and physically. Nothing was impossible as we were acting together. Under the wing of the Griffin wee enabled all functional battlefield areas united for the single goal. We have integrated drones excellently to detect and destroy targets, as well as logistical support, protection against the chemical weapon, etc. We are coming back proud soldiers of Lithuania, leaving a clear footprint at the JMRC and significantly better than before the exercise.”
The exercise was conducted at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), which boasts the area of 163 km2 and over 1300 sites of infrastructure and buildings exclusively for military training purposes.
According to the realistic exercise scenario, force groups playing the enemy were constantly engaged in activities in the realistic operational environment, while simulation of the civilian environment trained CIMIC and psi-ops specialists. Medical units from Lithuania and the U.S. where honing their skills, including tactical evacuation from danger areas, in difficult combat conditions throughout the exercise. Allied Spirit 2025 also ran as a military equipment field test: the Vilkas IFVs, JLTVs and other equipment were proofed for effectiveness against different natural conditions than in Lithuania.
The IF Griffin used its new C2 concept at the exercise for improved maneuverability and stealth against the adversary’s reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Strengthening the interoperability of NATO Allies and Partners was particularly highlighted in the training.
An international logistical support battalion formed by the IF Iron Wolf and NATO Allies’ troops ensured an uninterrupted supply of arms, ammunition and other means. Engineers of Col Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion and the Hungarian Armed Forces were installing defence positions and tactical obstacles thus contributing to personnel protection and undermining the enemy’s freedom of maneuver. Throughout the Exercise, members of Gen Motiejus Pečiulionis Artillery Battalion interacted with the Allies to ensure indirect fire support.
The objective of Exercise Allied Spirit 2025 is to further improve cooperation and interoperability among NATO Allies and Partners while providing the environment for brigade-sized units to conducted an uninterrupted period of training planning and execution of wide-scale military defensive and offensive operations.
Photo credits: SSgt Arnas Čemerka
