Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) command and staff changeover ceremony took place on 5 January 2018 aboard headquarters and supply ship LNS Jotvingis at the Naval Flotilla, Lithuanian Navy. After a year-long service as the BALTRON commander Lieutenant (Navy) Kaspars Miezitis (Latvian Navy) relinquished the duties to Lieutenant Commander Audrius Venckūnas of the Lithuanian Navy.
At the ceremony Commander of the Latvian Navy Rear Admiral (Lower half) Ingus Vizulis presented to Lieutenant (Navy) Kaspars Miezitis, the BALTRON Commander from 5 January 2017 to 5 January 2018, the BALTRON command pennant as a memento. Commander of the Lithuanian Navy Captain (Navy) Arūnas Mockus presented to Lt Cdr Audrius Venckūnas a new command pennant blessed by Chaplain Lieutenant Commander Remigijus Monstvilas which was hoisted on the aftermost mast. BALTRON staff personnel who had been in service in 2017 were also recognised at the ceremony. Lithuanian Navy Commander presented the Divisions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal for Distinguished Service to Lieutenant (Navy) Kaspars Miezitis. The changeover ceremony was also attended by Commander of the Naval Flotilla Commander Tomas Skurdenis, members of LNS Jotvingis crew and BALTRON staff.
The Baltic Squadron was established on 28 August 1998. BALTRON comprises ships and international staff, both provided by Lithuania and Latvia. Estonia has stopped contributing national capabilities to BALTRON since 2015 but the cooperation of the three Baltic states in NATO SNMCMG1 continues. It is a rapid response military units of the Baltic countries' navies, one of its key tasks is to detect and neutralize mines and other unexploded munitions remaining on the Baltic seafloor from World War II. The unit also serves as a training platform before assignments to NATO units.
BALTRON Commander and staff are serving on a rotational one year basis, the ships - on a six-month basis. Lithuanian headquarters and supply ship LNS Jotvingis (N42) assigned to BALTRON for the period from February till the end of 2018 will replace mine countermeasures ship LNS Kuršis (M54) which was assigned to BALTRON in 2017. BALTRON staff is authorized to conduct missions by the committee of Lithuanian and Latvian CHODs.
