April 13, deployment ceremony of the eleventh rotation of Ghowr Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-11) and the fourth shift of the National Support Element (NSE-4) to the international mission in Afghanistan took place in the central square of Tauragė Town, at the town's castle.
The festive event began with a mass at the Holy Trinity Church of Tauragė and later proceeded to the central square of Tauragė where the leaving peacekeepers aligned in a solemn deployment formation.
Vice Minister of National Defence Rimas Stanislovas Jonaitis, Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, Commander Land Force Brig. Gen. Jonas Vytautas Žukas, commanders of divisions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, representatives of administration of Tauragė District, town, and region, guests and relatives of the leaving troops gathered to see off the departing peacekeepers.
On behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence R. Jonaitis wished the soldiers luck in the multinational mission in Afghanistan. Vice Minister together with the Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. A.Pocius and Commander Land Force Brig. Gen. J.Žukas presented them with traditional deployment gifts: Victorinox knives and amber pendants.
„Troops of the Lithuanian Armed Forces are going to enforce NATO's principles. The „one for all" principle must be observed. That is why Lithuanian sky is daily protected by NATO's fighter-jets, NATO's warships come to our seaport, and our partners are ready to arrive in case our nation was in need of help", Lithuanian Chief of Defence said. Maj. Gen. A. Pocius highlighted that in exchange for security provided to Lithuania our responsibility is to fairly fulfil our duty in the multinational operation in Afghanistan. Chief of Defence wished the departing troops luck, promised to visit them and also wished patience to their families while waiting for their relatives and friends to return.
PRT-11 is based on the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion, it is the first division o f the Lithuanian Armed Forces to undergo deployment to Afghanistan for a second time. PRT-11 is led by Lt. Col. Gintaras Smaliukas, Commander of Kęstutis Battalion. Around 60% of the new shift have already been deployed to Afghanistan once, 80% of them have served in the Balkan region, Iraq and Afghanistan; the present international deployment will be the first for only one fifth of the rotation. Chief of Defence encourage the experienced part of the shift to support their "fresher" colleagues and become friends and each other's counselors.
The mission in Ghowr will be transferred from the current PRT-10 to PRT-11 in May; the present rotation comprises 150 civilian and military members from Lithuania and also civilian and military personnel contributed by Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Romania and Ukraine. The main task of the mission is to help local government to extend its authority in the province, to ensure security and to create conditions for provincial reconstruction.
National Support Element (NSE-4) led by Maj. Vidas Šileika will include 20 soldiers from across the Lithuanian Armed Forces, two representatives sent by Ukraine and two by USA. The unit will replace NSE-3 after a half-year duty and take up tasks in Afghanistan in the end of June - beginning of August. The fourth rotation began training for the international operation last year jointly with NSE-3. Presently NSE-4 undergoes the active phase for the international operation, the fourth rotation will be evaluated and certified in the beginning of July of this year.
The main task of NSE is providing general logistic support for military units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces deployed in Afghanistan, and military and civilian representatives serving in multinational ISAF headquarters.
The core group of NSE is located in the Kabul International Airport, detached members of the element perform duty at Kandahar International Airport, and NSE Support Unit - at the camp of the Lithuanian-led PRT in Chaghcharan.
More information at: PR Officer of the Chief of Defence Capt. Tomas Balkus, phone (00370 5) 278 5091, cell phone 00370 682 25 359.
Pictures by Alfredas Pliadis
