November 24, a group of lecturers and students of the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) paid a visit to the Šiauliai Air Base of the Lithuanian Air Force (LITHAF). The guests were led by BALTDEFCOL Commandant Brig Gen Meelis Kiili and Course Director Col Andrej Boičišin (Lithuanian Armed Forces).
The guests listened to addresses by the commander of the Danish Air Contingent and representatives of the Air Base and viewed facilities and equipment of the base. They also met with representatives of the Royal Danish Air Force currently conducting the Baltic Air policing mission and viewed their F-16 fighters.
The LITHAF Air Base was visited by listeners of the Higher Command Studies Course (HCSC) at BALTDEFCOL. The courses are attended by civilian and military personnel who assume commanding duties in defence systems of various countries, including Lithuania, and who typically have military ranks of colonel or lieutenant colonel.
HCSC at BALTDEFCOL is attended by 15 students from 8 countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, UK, Poland, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine. Lithuanians in the course are: Col Eugenijus Vosylius, Col Vytautas Reklaitis, Žilvinas Tomkus and Šarūnas Rastenis.
BALTDEFCOL is a joint project of the three Baltic States ensuring training of senior officers. The College is increasingly recognised among NATO countries so its listeners include not only military representatives of the Baltic States but also of other NATO countries. BALTDEFCOL is also one of the few military education institutions in NATO countries where operational level courses are held in English.
The major part of unit commanders in the Lithuanian Armed Forces are graduates of BALTDEFCOL.
Pictures by A. Tamošiūnas and I. Gulbinienė (LITHAF)
