March 2, homecoming ceremony of the 2nd shift of National Support Element (NSE-2) after mission in Afghanistan took place at Logistic Command of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, Commander of Logistic Command Ovidijus Eitminavičius, troops and personnel of Logistic Command, relatives of soldiers, and other guests, took place in the event.
NSE-2 led by Lt. Col. Eimantas Juodzevičius, Officer of Logistic Command of the Joint Staff comprised 18 members specialising in various fields - finance, procurement, loading and movement control, storage, and others. They were deployed on the mission in August and came back on February 20. 15 members of NSE-2 were awarded with National Defence System-level medals and badges for Participation in International Operations in the homecoming ceremony.
National Support Unit was established as a step in transformation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and in order to ensure more efficient logistic support and control of the support in Lithuanian military units deployed to multinational operations. In missions NSE is in charge of procurements, storage of material assets, provision, accounting, and write-off, as well as management of financial resources of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, reception of military and civilian personnel and organisation of their forward movement, and other functions.
The core group of NSE is deployed at the Kabul International Airport. Individual soldiers of the Element serve at Kandahar Airport, and NSE Support Unit - at the camp of the Lithuanian-led Ghowr Provincial Reconstruction Team in Chaghcharan.
Currently Lithuania maintains around 200 troops in Afghanistan. They are a part of Ghowr Provincial Reconstruction Team's mission in Chaghcharan under ISAF, as well as at headquarters of ISAF forces in Kabul and Heart and ISAF mission in southern Afghanistan.
Pictures by Justinas Gubštas.
