On April 25 a formal deployment ceremony will be held in Alytus at the Monument of the Freedom Angel for the Lithuanian peacekeepers sent to the International Security Force's (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. The 15th rotation of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-15), Police Advisory Team (PAT-1), Military Advisors Team (MAT-1) and troops delegated to the ISAF Joint Headquarters and the ISAF Regional Command-West will begin their service in Afghanistan from mid-May.
The deployment ceremony will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Mykolas Juozapavičius, Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Maj Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas, ambassadors of foreign countries, leadership of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the Mechanized Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf and units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, troops, authorities of Alytus City and district, and families of the troops.
The ceremony will begin at 9.30 a.m. by a celebration of holy mass at St. Casmir's church in Alytus, later the formal ceremony will be held at the monument of the Freedom Angel at 11.00 a.m.
The new shift is formed by the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion. PRT-15 will include 150 troops which will be commanded by Lt Col Artūras Radvilas.
The Battalion delegates representatives to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan for a second time. The Battalion's flag has already flown in the Chaghcharan base in 2008.
Police Advisory Team (PAT-1) previously referred to as the Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) includes 20 members: 12 US troops and 8 Lithuanians - representatives of the Military Police and the Public Security Service. PAT-1 will be led by Maj Darius Bartasevičius. This unit along with Military Advisors Team (MAT-1, former PRT Training Team) will advise to the Afghan National Security Forces with an aim to improve the abilities of local army and police as they are assuming the responsibility for security in Ghor.
Units deployed to Ghor undergo rearrangement from the orientation to training to mentoring function with regard to the change of the character of the International Security Assistance Force's mission in Afghanistan as of the end of 2011.
For the media:
Media representatives willing to attend the event are invited to register at 8 650 62 272, or e-mail jurgis.norvaisa@mil.lt before April 24, 17hrs. POC - PIO for PRT-15 1st Lt Jurgis Norvaiša, cell phone 8 650 62272.
