Early in the morning of February 17 5-day long field training exercise (FTX) Interaction 2015 began with alert level training at permanent bases of participating units. At the exercise organised by the Mechanised Infantry Brigade (MIB) Iron Wolf roughly 1800 members of rapid response battalion tactical groups of the Lithuanian Land Force and other units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will train responding to threats of hybrid warfare at the Gaižiūnų Training Area, in Rukla and Jonava city.
Exercise Interaction 2015 will be conducted in several phases. During the first phase that is already underway units of the MIB Iron Wolf and members of the rapid response battalions are improving interoperability under conditions of higher than routine alert levels, are planning military operations and preparing for execution. The battalion tactical groups are preparing for tactical movement to designated areas of concentration at the Gaižiūnų Training Area.
On February 18 through 21 the action will be gradually transferred to the city of Jonava and nearby area, and territory of Achema JSC. Organisers of the exercise will model different scenarios to train the exercise participants to respond to threats of hybrid warfare - the battalion tactical groups will carry out military patrols, provide protection of objects and territory, install check-posts and conduct inspection procedures, respond to potential provocations, cooperate with fictional local authorities and residents, and hone other tactical actions in civilian environment on a rotating basis. When the assigned tasks are completed, the units will return to their permanent bases.
The main training audience of the exercise are tactical groups formed on the basis of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion and the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion with units from the MIB Iron Wolf, King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, the Military Medical Service, Juozas Vitkus Engineer and the Air Defence Battalion incorporated.
For the attention of civilians
Organisers of the Exercise Interaction 2015 call for the civilian residents' attention to the fact that armed military personnel will be practicing tactical actions on February 18 through 21 in Rukla, Jonava city and nearby area, including movement of M113 armoured vehicles (fitted with rubber protectors for driving on bitumen roads), various military ATVs and trucks, patrols of infantry personnel, and sound and smoke-producing training implements.
Training will be more intense in Jonava and around the territory of Achema JSC. Exercise sites and proceeding has been agreed on with city council of Jonava and the administration of Achema JSC. The exercise organisers will be assisted by MP and civilian police officers of Jonava. Lithuanian military are inviting local residents to be careful and to observe restrictions at exercise sites.
For the Media
Media opportunities will be provided to observe the training on February 19-21 in Jonava. Completion of tactical tasks will take place at different locations and times:
February 19:
- Territory of Ukmergė Road Service and nearby area (Darbininkų str. 4) at 3.00-5.00 p.m. (seizure of object);
- Near the Jonava District Council HQ (Žeimių str. 13) at 6.00-8.00 p.m. (a fictional demonstration).
February 20:
- At the main gates of Achema JSC at 9.00-11.00 a.m. (inspection procedure at the check-post and response to fictional incidents);
- Near Jonava Adult Education Centre (Basanavičiaus str. 7) at 2.00-3.00 p.m. (seizure of object);
- In the territory of Ukmergė Road Service and nearby area (Darbininkų str. 4) at 3.00-5.00 p.m. (seizure of object);
- Near the Jonava District Council HQ (Žeimių str. 13) at 6.00-8.00 p.m. (a fictional demonstration).
February 21:
- At the main gates of Achema JSC at 9.00-12.00 a.m. (inspection procedure at the check-post and response to fictional incidents);
POC - Assistant to the Commander of the MIB Iron Wolf Captain Ainaras Jonaitis. Mobile phone no. 00370 614 35 693; email: ainaras.jonaitis@mil.lt
More about the exercise at: http://goo.gl/iAHUJB
Photos of the MIB Iron Wolf (archive)
