On June 26-July 3 British soldiers of the headquarters company of the 3 Commando Brigade assigned to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) are sharing experience with colleagues from units of the Motorised Infantry Brigade Griffin and the National Defence Volunteer Force Žemaičiai Military District at the Lithuanian Armed Forces General Povilas Plechavičius Training Area (Kairiai, Klaipėda region).
The main goal of such training is to hone soldiers' skills in building clearing, squad-level attacks and ambushes. The training event involves approximately 70 soldiers of the United Kingdom and over 100 soldiers of Lithuania.
For the Media:
Media representatives are invited to observe the exercise, meet JEF soldiers and witness the effectiveness and power of battle simulation at Gen Povilas Plechavičius Training Area on June 29, 13.00 hrs. Please register until Friday, June 28, 17.00 hrs to Alfonsas.Bickus@mil.lt or by phoe +370 686 900 15.
Freelance journalists and foreign media journalists have to get accredited in the Strategic Communications and Public Relations Department of MoD by e-mail vis@kam.lt, and provide a filled in questionnaire form, copies of their identity document and a confirmation letter of the editorial office where the material is planned to be published.
POC: Maj Alfonsas Bičkus Chief of CIMIC Section, Motorised Infantry Brigade Griffin, +370 686 900 15, Alfonsas.Bickus@mil.lt
UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force
The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force was established at the NATO Summit in 2014 and became operational after one year. The force reached Full Operational Capability in June 2018 with the signature of the Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding in London. Today the high-readiness rapid response force comprising 10 thousand troops can be activated to respond to emergencies in Europe and beyond any time necessary.
Lithuania is contributing a company sized unit to the JEF which is assigned to the Combat Group of the Danish Armed Forces and a military medic assigned to the UK field hospital. One Lithuanian officer has been serving in the JEF operational headquarters in Northwood, United Kingdom, since early 2016.
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania gave a mandate for the Lithuanian Armed Forces to take part in military operations as part of the NATO Response Force, European Union Battle Groups and the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, therefore, once there is a political decision, there is also the legal basis to deploy our soldiers at short notice and ensure crisis management.
Photo credits: Laura Jokšaitė (Lithuanian Armed Forces)
