Pre-deployment training of the 17th rotation formed by the troops of the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" before deployment to Afghanistan, Ghor province, as Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team, is gathering pace. PRT-17 personnel are completing pre-deployment training tasks successively and cover the pre-deployment readiness plan inclusive of a wide spectrum of tasks, from familiarisation with culture, religion and customs of Afghanistan to completion of various tactical tasks, through an analysis of the situation in the mission area.
According to Commander of the Artillery Battalion Lt Col Tomas Masaitis who will be in charge of PRT-17 and the entire military contingent during the mission, the key factors for the success of the mission are professionalism of troops, efficient team work, awareness of the operational environment, and further development of close cooperation with local institutions of authority, security forces and local community.
"The mission tasks require universal training for which reason we conduct a thorough analysis of the situation in the mission area, learn from the experience of previous PRTs and shape our training with regard to the changes that have occurred," said PRT-17 Commander Lt Col Tomas Masaitis.
A group made of PRT-17 specialists of separate functional areas have been already completed reconnaissance of the mission area in the province of Ghor, Chaghcharan PRT Headquarters, where they have familiarised with the situation on the ground and the specific features of the PRT mission. Such experience helped the incoming rotation to set key priorities of training and complete relevant planning of tasks.
PRT-17 began training in May
PRT-17 continues individual training cycle which started on May 21. Theoretical and practical exercises are completed to enhance basic individual skills: first medical aid, weaponry and delivering fire, military topography, counter-IED actions, radio connection procedures, tactics, military engineering, command and control of units, commander training at different level, and other equally important tasks. Basic individual skills refresher course including theoretical and practical sessions in psychological training, calling in close air support, medical airlift, legal basics, and other areas is obligatory to all the PRT-17 members.
PRT specialists of functional areas reiterated and updated their knowledge in the courses at the Lithuanian Armed Forces School and Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Armed Forces: HMMWV driver and repairer, safe driving in extreme conditions, , marksman, weaponry specialists, mortar firing, survival in extreme conditions, suppression of crowd/rioters, civilian-military cooperation, and radio signal specialists courses. Troops train individually in NATO's remote control courses tailored to meet the needs of the International Security Assistance Force's mission in Afghanistan and the characteristic features of tasks conducted there.
In the nearest future the PRT-17 training will gradually progress to collective training targeted to the completion of specific tasks in the mission area: live firing exercises, staff planning and refinement of procedures, detachment tactics in composition of a group, a platoon and a company. Troops will also undergo parallel training in the military training institutions in Lithuania: ATV mechanic, counter-IEDs actions, peacetime operations, task groups and counter insurgency actions courses.
Artillery Battalion's flag will fly in Ghor for the second time
Personnel of the Artillery Battalion is preparing for the ISAF mission for the second time. The Battalion's flag already bears the band with a silver-plate badge and a plate - a mark that the flag was brought to Afghanistan by the PRT-9 in 2009.
Deployment of the core of the PRT-17 formed by the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, the assigned military personnel of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" and other units is scheduled in May 2013. A significant part of the PRT-17 has previous experience from multinational operations in the Balkan Region, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Currently, PRT-15 formed by the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion of the Lithuanian Land Force ensures security in Ghor. Lithuanian civilian and military personnel in Ghor executes the peacekeeping mission along with the colleagues from Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland, the Check Republic, Ukraine, Croatia and Bulgaria.
On the 4th of January, 2012, the transfer of responsibility for Chaghcharan, capital of the province of Ghor, and the surrounding area, and on May 13 - the transfer of responsibility for security onto local security forces was announced in Chaghcharan. The process was applied to three more regions of Ghor - Lalva Sar Jangal, Chahar Sadeh, and Dowlat Yar. Currently the responsibility of the local security forces - military and police - is gradually increased in the area inhabited by approximately 80 percent of the population in the province as part of the transfer of responsibility process. Local administrative capabilities are enhanced and development cooperation projects are also being continued. They key mission of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor is to train the Afghan National Security Forces with a major focus on mentoring.
By PIO for the PRT-17 Capt Ainaras Jonaitis, cell phone 00370 699 36 793, email ainaras.jonaitis@mil.lt
Photos by the personnel of the PRT-17 and the Juozas Lukša training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force: pre-deployment training.
