On May 8 SGM David Davenport, U.S. Army Europe Command Sergeant Major, conducted a formal visit in Lithuania. The official arrived to meet with the company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army in Europe (USAREUR), currently engaged in bilateral combat training with military personnel of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf.
According CSM David Davenport, Lithuanian military managed to integrate their U.S. colleagues into their combat training within a notably short time which proved their professionalism and abilities to accommodate to changing circumstances. The guest emphasized that the deployment in Lithuania was a great opportunity for U.S. military to engage in an immediate cooperation with their allies. CSM D. Davenport also expressed his delight at the fact that the intense training schedule also included social events for the U.S. troops to get a closer acquaintance with Lithuanian history and culture, and to present their own.
USAREUR CSM began the visit at the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vaidotas Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Rukla where the U.S. military are currently accommodated. The officer met with the U.S. representatives and viewed their living conditions. Later the U.S. delegation proceeded to the headquarters of the MIB Iron Wolf where they met with Commander of the MIB Iron Wolf COL Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Sergeant Majors of the Brigade SGM Vytenis Žėglaitis, and Sergeant Major of the Juozas Lukša Training Centre (Land Force) MSG Raimundas Bugavičius, listened to a briefing by Master Sergeant of the Duke Vaidotas Battalion MSG Linas Anskaitis about the Lithuanian Land Force and the MIB Iron Wolf, and the plans for combat training of the U.S. military deployed in Lithuania.
The visit was concluded by watching a joint live-fire exercise of the USAREUR 173rd Airborne Brigade and personnel of the Algirdas Battalion at the Gaižiūnų Training Area. SGM D. Davenport encouraged Lithuanian PFC Nikolaj Krasko by giving him his challenge coin for good firing results.
The guest was escorted by Sergeant Major of the Lithuanian Land Force SGM Osvaldas Žurauskas and Sergeant Major of the National Defence Volunteer Force SG Darius Masiulis throughout the visit.
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So far, the U.S. military that deployed in Lithuania on April 26 are planned to be maintained in the country till the end of the running year. A company-sized unit (approximately 150 members) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade that was moved to Lithuania is based in Vicenza, Italy. The U.S. troops are currently accomodated at the Duke Vaidotas Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf in Rukla.
The U.S. military have engaged in ground force combat training throughout Lithuania as of May. U.S. troops will also take part in Exercise Black Arrow on May 12-23, U.S.-Baltic States Exercise Saber Strike in June, 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.
Photo credits: SSG E. Ponomariovas
POC - PAO for the Lithuanian Land Force CPT Mindaugas Neimontas,
Mobile phone no. 00370 640 45380, email: mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
