Base of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces called Gabrielius, in use since 2007, has been completely recovered, a certificate has been officially signed on the restoration of the lot and its transfer to the management of the Kandahar airfield base.
In 2007-2015 the Gabrielius base was the main station of the Aitvaras Squadron of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. It served as an area for preparing for operations, hosted a depot for parking vehicles, and welfare facilities.
The Gabrielius Base established on the edge of the contemporary Kandahar airfield base in the end of 2007 found itself in the centre of it during the peak of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation when there where over 26 thousand soldiers deployed to base. It "drew back" to the edge again when the coalition forces began pulling out.
When the mission of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan was formally closed on 1 July 2015, forces began withdrawing and recovery of the base began. When military personnel departed, the National Support Element-Afghanistan handed over the base to the management of Kandahar Airfield in line with applicable regulations.
Commander of the Lithuanian National Support Element-Afghanistan Lieutenant Colonel Saulius Vainutis admitted after the symbolic ceremony of lowering Lithuanian flag that he had ambivalent feelings: "On the one hand, we are happy to have completed our work and to be quits with the management of Kandahar airfield base, we have given everything back just the way we have found it in 2007 - a clear stretch of ground, on the other hand, retrospectively, it is sentimental to say goodbye to the Gabrielius base that has a unique history, to this place where special operations forces soldiers were planning operations for eight years and took their rest here, where the Air Mentoring Team was conducting its training mission and soldiers of the National Support Element served."
***
When NATO's mission in Afghanistan changed its combat role to train, advise and assist local forces, roughly 20 soldiers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces joined Mission Resolute Support alongside military personnel from other countries. The majority of them are staff officers, logistical and communications specialists posted to NATO operational headquarters in Kabul and Herat.
POC: PAO for the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Captain Donatas Suchockis, 0037068628035,e-mail: Donatas.suchockis@mil.lt
