Part of the organisers and the main instructors of the first phase of Exercise Saber Strike 15, Command Post Exercise conducted with tactical simulation systems for 5 brigade-level staffs, are soldiers of the Danish Division. The Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and infantry brigades of Latvia and Estonia, have been since 2006 affiliated for training purposes to the Danish Division that also ensures our troops' readiness for different types of operations.
"This focussed training of the Iron Wolf Brigade to operate with NATO allies that we are conducting with Latvians and Estonians and assistance from Danish instructors is one of our combat training priorities. It allows us to foster professionalism of all levels of commanders and soldiers and to test the ability to complete operations as part of a higher military unit," Commander Iron Wolf Brigade Colonel Raimundas Vaikšnoras said about the years-long cooperation with the Danish Division.
Formation of the Danish Division dates back to 1951, the time when Denmark's defence system was entirely reformed after the World War II. The name of the unit changed several times: established as the 3rd Division, it was renamed as the Jutland Division in 1985, and assumed its current name of the Danish Division in 1997. The present-day Danish Division is one of the corner stone elements of the Multinational Corps Northeast and Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC).
The Division is comprised of two mechanised brigades. Its headquarters is based in Haderslev, Denmark, and manned by 60 professional officers and NCOs and roughly reservists. The Danish Division is the largest operational-level staff in the Danish Armed Forces. Its key task is to train staff officers and staffs for taking part operations as part of higher units. The Danish Division is also responsible for improving soldiers' qualification and processing lessons learned.
As of June 2 the Danish Division is under the command of Major General Fleming Mathiesen who succeeded Major General Michael A. Lollesgaard posted to lead the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.
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Saber Strike is an annual exercise held by the U.S. Army Europe in the Baltic States. Saber Strike 15 is the fifth iteration of the series held in Lithuania. The part of the exercise in Lithuania will involve roughly 1.6 thousand Lithuanian military and 1.5 thousand troops from 8 NATO countries - Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, USA, Germany, Slovenia and Canada.
Roughly 1 thousand of Portuguese, US and German military personnel have brought an impressive arsenal of military armament for the FTX in Lithuania: the ABRAMS tanks, the STRYKER, the BOXER, the PANDUR and the FUCHS wheeled armoured personnel carriers and the EAGLE IV and the DINGO II armoured reconnaissance vehicles. Allied troops have been training with this equipment in combined exercises in Lithuania since April.
POC - 1st Lt Andrius Dilda, 00370 640 45380, email: andrius.dilda@mil.lt
