"Lt Gen Jörg Vollmer and I have discussed opportunities of training specialists of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf. It has been agreed to start training equipment maintenance personnel this year, and to train platoon and company commanders at Germany's training centre as of next year. The course specialty focuses on training a mechanised infantry unit," Brig Gen Valdemaras Rupšys said after the visit in Germany.
On May 2-4 commanders of Lithuanian and German armies held a formal meeting and discussed opportunities of cooperation between the forces and prospects of integration. "We have discussed possibilities of joint military training, the German side provided a list of military exercises we could join depending on the extend of our capabilities and needs, we will consider the list and coordinate the needs for 2019," Commander of the Land Force said. Joint training of Lithuanian and German Land Force units is already conducted in Lithuania - soldiers of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf are training with the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group, and in Germany where staff personnel of the MIB Iron Wolf are training in composition of the German Division. "We can see a growing need to speak German, it would significantly boost our ability to integrated with German staffs. There are plans already to send Lithuanian officers to serve in the staff of the 10th Tank Division in the positions of senior officers for a three-year rotational period," Commander told about the expanding opportunities.
"We have paid a visit to the Bundeswehr Joint Forces Operations Command and were briefed on the multinational operations Germany takes part in. It was a pleasure to receive praises for the professional and motivated Lithuanian troops that serve in the mission in Mali," General observed.
Among the toured military infrastructure in Germany was the Army Combat Maneuver Training Centre in Altmark equipped with vast and cutting-edge possibilities to arrange and assess military units training. The Centre has one of Europe's most modern urban warfare facilities, Lithuanian soldiers are already training there for the multinational operation in Mali. Also, modern AGDUS battle simulation system and the ways of integrating it into military training was presented. According to Land Force Commander, it was looked into the possibilities to expand cooperation with the Centre.
The cooperation between the Lithuanian and German armies intensified when the NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group, majorly formed Germany, was deployed in Lithuania. Its training is tied to the training calendar of the MIB Iron Wolf whose staff is being affiliated with the training cycle of the 10th Division of Germany in order to enhance qualification, uniform procedures and learn from tactical experience using Boxer platform.
Photo credits: Bundeswehr
