In January instructors of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces Training Centre (LITHSOF TC) invited military personnel of the Training and Doctrine Command, the Joint Headquarters, and the Lithuanian Volunteer Force of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and personnel of the Public Security Service of the Ministry of the Interior to attend a two-week Military Assistance Instructor Course in Kaunas, territory of SOF Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion.
LITHSOF TC instructors were assisted by members of the LITHSOF Special Purpose Service, Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion, and Combat Diving Service who had been responsible for military assistance in the NATO International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan. A lecture was given by Capt Jurgita Motiejūnaitė, representative of the Ministry of National Defence.
The need of a course on military assistance was brought forward by Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius as he was paying a formal visit to Afghanistan, namely members of the Special Operations Squadron. Chief of Defence proposed to share the experience the Special Operations Squadron had acquired in the military assistance area with representatives of other institutions that are also involved in this activity.
The Military Assistance Instructor Course is based on the experience of the Special Operations Squadron of training the Afghan Special Police and other local security forces during the mission in Afghanistan. SOS is highly experienced and professional in conducting such tasks since military assistance has been one of the key ISAF tasks for the Lithuanian SOS and other special operations forces for three years.
The course was delivered in two phases: during the first phase the attendees of the course familiarised with the doctrines and the updates of the documentation on providing military assistance, and the basics of counterinsurgency. The second phase focused on practice - preparation for providing military assistance: drafting of plans and training programs, selection and instruction of interpreters for work with the trained units and completion of the training tasks, and other tasks.
Both attendees and instructors of the course were able to acquire theoretical and practical skills. Representatives of different institutions shared experience and observations not only in the classroom but also on a football pitch or basketball or basketball court.
This is the first time such course has been organised in the Baltic Region. SOS experience is really relevant in the context of NATO's multinational operations. The key objective of ISAF mission in Afghanistan is training local forces and transferring responsibility for the security in the region.
SOF personnel have been deployed to the operation in Afghanistan since 2002. In 2007 SOF representatives began serving in the NATO-led ISAF mission in the south of Afghanistan. In the same year the focus of the operation was switched to rendering military assistance and training local security forces in partnering. During the mission ISAF forces provide military assistance for local Afghan forces, jointly conduct combat SOF tasks, organise seminars and military training for the Afghan National Police, and complete other tasks.
In the future LITHSOF Training Centre foresees expanding Military Assistance Course as well as arranging it on an annual basis. Once the LITHSOF TC infrastructure is strengthened it is planned to offer the Course for the international SOF community as well.
LITHSOF troops contribute actively to improving military assistance abilities not only of the members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces but also members of other institutions. Furthermore, experience in the area of military assistance is also relevant for planning and training the reserve for defence capabilities of Lithuania.
LITHSOF info and photos
