Brigadier General Almantas Leika who was in the lead of the Lithuanian Land Force from 2011 to 2016 and is now posted to the Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum has been awarded one of the highest military awards in the United States, the Legion of Merit, for the weighty contribution to the development of partnership between the Lithuanian Land Force and the U.S. Army, and for personal efforts to strengthen the cooperation of Lithuania, U.S. and NATO.
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and foreign military and politicians are eligible for the Legion of Merit which is only presented to recognise exceptional merits and achievements.
