In late January - early February Lithuanian Special Operations Forces (SOF) Squadron „Aitvaras" underwent training before deployment to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
During the three-week training servicemembers of SOF Squadron implemented the full-spectrum of special tasks with major emphasis on military assistance tasks.
On the basis of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force' (ISAF) plans gradual transfer of responsibility for ensuring security in Afghanistan to Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) has been underway for several years already, at the same time putting an emphasis on the importance of training and educating ANSF.
In that context Lithuanian SOF servicemembers continuously increase attention to the training of Afghan security and police forces this way supporting local population in countering insurgents.
The pre-mission exercise of the Lithuanian SOF was also attended by representatives of the United Kingdom's Special Forces (UKSP), specialists from the Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), and the United States European Command (EUCOM).
The rotation undergoing training will be the 12th shift of „Aitvaras" to be deployed to Afghanistan this spring. SOF soldiers have been sent to the operation in Afghanistan since 2002: to the operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in 2002-2004, and to the ISAF operation (Afghanistan) since 2007.
SOF information
