On June 1-3 Commander of the EU Battle Group to which Lithuania is contributing a national unit, Brigadier General of the Polish Armed Forces Sławomir Wojciechowski is visiting Lithuania. During his first visit in our country Polish officer will meet with representatives of the Ministry of National Defence, Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, visit Lithuanian Land Force and observe exercise of Lithuanian troops.
The guest is paying the visit to discuss current issues of duty in the EU Battle Group, and get a closer acquaintance with troops of the King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion on service in the present EU BG, and their combat readiness.
On June 1 Brig. Gen. S. Wojciechowski's visit at the Ministry of National Defence and a meeting with Director of the Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Department Saulius Gasiūnas and Chief of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Algis Vaičeliūnas is scheduled.
On June 2 Brig. Gen. S. Wojciechowski will go to the headquarters of the Motorised Infantry Brigade „Iron Wolf" in Rukla (Jonava Distr.) where the guest will meet with Commander of the Brigade Col. Vilmantas Tamošaitis and representatives of staff. Later Commander EU BG will visit headquarters of the Lithuanian Land Force in Vilnius where meeting with Commander Land Force Brig. Gen. Jonas Vytautas Žukas and staff representatives is planned.
The guest will finish his visit in Lithuania on June 3 by observing a training in Gen. Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre's Pabradė Military Area (Švenčionių region) of King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion assigned for duty in EU BG under his lead from January 1 of this year.
Lithuania's contingent in the EU Battle Group consists of a motorised infantry company with support platoon of King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion, CIMIC group (of the National Defence Volunteer Force), MP division, troops serving in the international staff and National Support Element - 150 soldier in total. Lithuanians conduct duty in the EU Battle Group together with soldiers from Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Germany.
Battle Groups are high readiness rapidly deployable multinational joint forces capable of to conduct operations independently or in initial stage of a larger operation. EU BG get ready for deployment in 5-10 days once a political decision was issued, it is sustainable in operation theatre from 30 to 120 days (with resupply). Strength of one Battle Group is around 2,000 soldiers.
Note for media: on June 3, Thursday, an opportunity for media representatives will be provided to observe the motorised infantry company of King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion assigned for duty in EU BG on exercise and live firing in Gen. Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre's Pabradė Military Area (Meškerinė, Pabradė eldership, Švenčionių region). They will also be able to get information on the standby in the EU Battle Group, interview Commander EU BG Brig. Gen. S. Wojciechowski, and acting Commander of King Mindaugas Battalion Maj. Liudas Gumbinas. Media representatives should register before Wednesday, June 2, 4.30 p.m. at e-mail vis@kam.lt, or phone 00370 5 2735519 (name, represented media, phone number and e-mail will be needed). Ministry of National Defence will provide transport (capacity is limited, so please notify on registering if you wish to go by MoND transport). The transport will leave from the Ministry of National Defence on Thursday, June 3, at 8.30 a.m. The event is planned to take around 3,5 hours.
For more information on the EU BG Commander's visit contact: PR Officer of the Lithuanian Land Force Capt. Mindaugas Neimontas, cell phone 00370 640 45380.
(Note: Media representatives will be able to go from Pabradė by MoND transport to the guest and media day of the HNS „Baltic Host 2010" exercise which will be held on June 3, 1.00 p.m., at the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Vilnius. )
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About Brig. Gen. S. Wojciechowski
Born in 1963, graduated from the Polish Army Air Defence Officer School Koszalin, Platoon Leader and Cadets' Battery Commander in the School in 1987-1992. Graduated from the National Academy of Defence in 1995, and became Battalion Commander in 1995 and Brigade Chief Air Defence of the 36th Armored Brigade, Trzebiatów, in 1997. Regiment Deputy Commander of the 4th Air Defence Regiment in 1999-2004 and Regiment Commander in2004-2007. In 2001 Brig. Gen. S. Wojciechowski graduated from Joint Services Command and Staff College, Advance Command and Staff Course, in the United Kingdom (Shrivenham), and in 2002 listened to Operations Centre Course in NATO School Oberammergau, Germany. Chief of Division Staff in Iraq in 2005. Division Chief Combat Training, HQ 11 Armored Division in 2007. Acquired MA degree in the US Army War Collage, Defence Policy Course, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA, in 2008. Commander of the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade in Międzyrzecs since 2008.
Picture from: http://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/
