On May 6-8 Lithuanian and U.S. military personnel attended a joint live-fire and riflemen-rescuers exercise as part of intense combat training activities at the Gaižiūnų Training Range in Rukla.
U.S. BRAVO Company, 1st Battalion,173rd Airborne Brigade, and Lithuania's 3rd Company, Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, delivered live fire individually or in groups of two while moving in a battle field.
"The exercise conducted in collaboration with U.S. military has given new experience for Lithuanian soldiers. I know that we are good fighters but cooperation with the 173rd Airborne Brigade will elevate us to an even higher level," Commander of the IIIrd Mechanised Infantry Company Captain Gediminas Ališauskas said. According to the officer, Lithuanian military appreciated the opportunity for sharing experience and training with U.S. paratroopers.
The exercise tested individual skills of both countries' military - they had to move around the area in close combat and demonstrate good marksmanship when firing at uplift targets at various distances. Indirect fire support specialists also tested their skills at a shooting range: 60 mm M-60 mortar fire thundered at the Gaižiūnų Training Range.
"We have been feeling ourselves at home from the moment of disembarking in Lithuania. Combat training with Lithuanians is notably useful and we have learnt considerably from them. We are ready to continue cooperating closely with our NATO allies," Commander BRAVO Company, 1st Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Captain Nicholas Salimbene said.
Riflemen-rescuers of the 3rd Company, Algirdas Battalion, honed their knowledge and skills of first medical aid and familiarised with the equipment used by allies alongside their colleagues from the BRAVO Company.
A company-sized unit (approximately 150 members) of the Vicenza, Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade was moved to Lithuania with own equipment and weaponry required for exercise purposes. The unit arrived in two C-17 transport aircrafts.
So far, U.S. military presence is planned to be maintained in Lithuania till the end of the running year. Currently the U.S. troops are accommodated at the Lithuanian Grad Duke Vaidotas Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf in Rukla.
The U.S. military will engage in a ground force combat training throughout Lithuania as of May. U.S. troops will also take part in Exercise Black Arrow in May, U.S.-Baltic States Exercise Saber Strike, and other cooperative training events.
Lithuania is providing the U.S. military with all the elements of host nation support necessary, i.e. accommodation, meals, logistic provision, etc.
The United States has deployed land force troops as a NATO ally in response to the threats for the region posed by the Russian intervention in Ukraine. The United States is also deploying army companies to Poland, Latvia and Estonia.
POC - Assistant to the Commander of the MIB Iron Wolf Captain Ainaras Jonaitis. Mobile phone no. 00370 614 35 693; email: ainaras.jonaitis@mil.lt
Photo credits: PFC Viktorija Sinkevičienė
