"The mission command and foreign colleagues recognise the professionalism, sense of duty and excellent performance of Lithuanian soldiers deployed to the NATO operation in Afghanistan. I am certain that these best qualities of a soldier were determined by our history, the duty to protect the Motherland and the tradition to help others," Chief of the Operations Command, Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Col Raimundas Vaikšnoras said to the soldiers deployed home after the multinational operation in Afghanistan.
On January 28 a home coming ceremony was held at the Joint Staff HQ in Vilnius for Lithuanian soldiers deployed back from the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan. The troops were serving at the operational command of the Alliance in Kabul and the Train Advise Assist Command - West (TAAC - West) in Herat.
"This Lithuanian rotation failed to steer clear of accidents. Five of the nine allied troops aboard were killed in a HC1 Puma helicopter crash as it was landing in the base in Kabul. A Lithuanian soldier was among the four survivors. We are happy to say that today our soldier stands in the lines ready to carry on with his duty," Col R.Vaikšnoras recalled the tragic accident that took place last October. The Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal for Injuries was bestowed on the Lithuanian soldier injured in the helicopter crash.
Medals for Deployment on International Missions and for Distinguished Service, and commendations of the Chief of Defence of Lithuania were awarded to the redeployed soldiers.
Currently Lithuania's chief contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan is Lithuanian staff officers assigned to the international headquarters in Kabul. 15 Lithuanian soldiers are serving in operational headquartering in Kabul and Herat on a 6-month rotating basis. Lithuanian troops train members of the Afghan National Security Forces and personnel from other Afghan institutions, and ensure logistical support to the Lithuanian contingent.
PAO for the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Captain Donatas Suchockis, cell phone no: 00370 686 28035, email: donatas.suchockis@mil.lt
