On June 6 multinational field training exercise (FTX) Iron Wolf 2016 was declared open at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area. The FTX is a part of Exercise Saber Strike held in Lithuania, while the overall exercise is a training event organised annually by U.S European Command.
"The objective of this exercise is to rehearse and improve interoperability while completing joint operations. This is our way to build and build on mutual trust with soldiers, commanders and units of our allies. We have carried numerous joint operations together and we know each other very well. Exercise Iron Wolf 2016 will take all of this further. And we can assure you, there is no risk of the mutual trust will not diminish," Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Major General Almantas Leika said to exercise participants at the opening ceremony.
Deputy Commander of the 29th Infantry Division Brigadier General Jeffrey P. Kramer and Defence Attaché of Poland Colonel Miroslav Wojcik also delivered addresses at the opening ceremony and exercises participants were blessed by Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas.
"This exercise offers great opportunities to build mutual trust and efficient cooperation among NATO allies," Deputy Commander of the 29th Infantry Division Brigadier General Jeffrey P. Kramer said.
The first part of the FTX concerned movement of foreign participants with their equipment to exercise locations in Lithuania. Soldiers have already assembled at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area, the opening parade was comprised by soldiers from Lithuania, Poland and the United States.
Exercise Iron Wolf 2016 will run at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area on June 6-16. This part of the exercise will evaluate abilities of soldiers with the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis and Duke Vaidotas Mechanised Infantry Battalions and the 2nd Territorial Unit of Darius and Girėnas Military District, National Defence Volunteer Force, to carry out operational planning, unit control, reconnaissance, march, moving into concentration area, defensive and offensive operations together with approx. 400 soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard and Poland's 12th Brigade.
The total of approx. 1.9 thousand Lithuanian and approx. 400 Polish and U.S. soldiers will be training at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area.
Later on, on June 12-21 the exercise will change location and continue at Gaižiūnai Training Area, and districts of Jonava, Kaunas and Kėdainiai.
More photos at: http://bit.ly/1UtOHc2
POC: PAO for the Lithuanian Land Force Captain Donatas Suchockis, 00370 5 278 5091, 00370 640 45380, e-mail: donatas.suchockis@mil.lt
Credits: Alfredas Pliadis (MoD), Gintautas Mauricas, Audrius Grinys
