On March 25 a five-day tactical field exercise began in the Kazlų Rūdos Training Area to test readiness of the 17th rotation of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor province (Afghanistan). This is the last PRT rotation that Lithuania will deploy to Ghor, it will hand over the responsibility for security in the province to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
Troops from Ukraine who will be serving with the PRT-17 also train in the exercise alongside their Lithuanian colleagues.
The Distinguished Visitors and Media Day on March 27 will be attended by Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius, other representatives of the Ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and other guests.
The exercise is intended to put to test readiness of the PRT-17 to carry out various tasks - patrolling, evacuation, countering an attack, neutralisation of explosive devices, communication with local population, representatives of local administration and various international organisations, etc.
Command and control (C2) skills of the PRT-17 sections as well as their ability to coordinate their actions with each other are also refined and tested at the exercise.
The exercise is directed by the Command of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, Evaluators Team formed by the Lithuanian military who have experience from past multinational deployments will conduct the assessment of the PRT-17 operation.
The PRT-17 military contingent which will close the mission of Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team is formed by the troops of the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf. In the past, the Battalion provided military personnel for the 9th shift of the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor.
The final PRT rotation is planned to be deployed in theatre in May.
The Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team ensuring security in the province of Ghor of Afghanistan is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) that was launched in 2005. As the whole province of Ghor has been drawn into the transition of security lead process, readiness of local security forces of Ghor to take over the charge for security in the province is gradually increased. The objective of the current PRT operating in Ghor is to strengthen the capacity of local administration and to train the ANSF units in the province with a focus on mentoring. Lithuania has scheduled closing the PRT mission and withdrawing its personnel from Ghor by the end of 2013.
The 16th rotation of Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team currently in charge of security in Ghor was formed by the 8th Territorial Unit of the Didžioji Kova Military District of the National Defence Volunteer Force.
POC - Information Operations Officer for the G9 Section of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Capt Rimvydas Švedas, cell phone no. 00370 614 35693; email rimvydas.svedas@mil.lt
In the photos (by - Capt A. Jonaitis, 1st Lt N. Kareckas and Sgt A. Matuzas) -pre-deployment training of the PRT-17.
