Evaluation Group of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces assessed the eleventh shift of the Lithuanian-led Ghowr Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-11) ready to deploy on the multinational operation in Afghanistan after the evaluation and certification exercise conducted at Kairiai Military Area (Klaipėda Distr.) on April 2.
„PRT-11 military element displayed great abilities to conduct even the most complicated tasks and was assessed ready for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan PAG-11," commented head of the Evaluation Group Col. Valdas Kiveris.
From March 29 to April 2 PRT-11 stayed in a camp similar to the camp of the actual Chaghcharan PRT installed in Kairiai Military Area of the Lithuanian Great Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Training Battalion. Situations of the exercise were planned on the basis of experience of previous missions.
According to the exercise scenario, soldiers had to implement tasks similar to typical tasks while on mission: observation of general situation, response to difficulties, communication with local authorities and citizens, drilled ambush response actions, organised and conducted evacuation of the injured, etc. The troops had to surmount distances to those their counterparts on duty make while patrolling in Ghowr, maintained relations with fictitious administration of Ghowr, lent assistance in solving sore issues, and implemented similar tasks similar.
„It was an intensive training. Soldiers had to solve several awkward situations at a time. They dwelled on their experience of international deployments and completed tasks throughout training with great sophistication. I am highly pleased with motivation and readiness level of the PRT-11 military contingent for the multinational deployment," said Commander of the Military Unit of PRT-11 Lt. Col. Gintaras Smaliukas.
Representatives of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) observed the concluding predeployment exercise and took interest in experience of the Lithuanian military personnel of ensuring security in Ghowr where Lithuania operates a PRT and in their readiness to join NATO's operation in Afghanistan. The Republic of Korea plans undertaking the lead of a PRT in the Parwan province since the country's Parliament approved renewal of the mission from 2010. The exercise was also observed by the US Ambassador in Lithuania Anne E. Derse: the official met with troops, familiarised with tasks of the PRT, and observed the training.
The concluding exercise in Kairiai Military Area was organised by the leadership of the Lithuanian Land Force, readiness of the units was evaluated by the Evaluating Group staffed and overseen by the Joint Staff.
The Great Lithuanian Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion (Tauragė Distr) providing the majority of military personnel for PRT-11 will be the first unit of the Lithuanian Armed Forces to deploy to the multinational operation for the second time. A considerable part of personnel on training already have experience of international deployments in the Balkan region, Iraq, and Afghanistan.. The rotation is planned to take over the mission from the currently serving PRT-10 in May 2010.
Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghowr based in Chaghcaran, provincial capital, is a joint military-civilian mission operating under the NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Lithuania took responsibility for the PRT of Ghowr province based in Chaghcharan in summer of 2005. The main objective of the PRT mission is to assist the Central Government of Afghanistan to extend its authority throughout the province, to ensure security and to help built environment favourable for provincial reconstruction.
PRT-10 currently providing security in Ghowr is based on the 1st Territorial Unit of Dainava Military District of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force. Along with around 150 civilians and military from Lithuania representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Romania and Ukraine serve in the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team.
PIO for PRT-11 Capt. Darius Toleikis, cell phone 00370 685 3949.
Pictures by Vilius Džiavečka
