From February 19 to 26 representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, internal services, municipalities and local organisations were undergoing joint action training in the city of Alytus and the surrounding area. They were also able to familiarise with experience and skills of the U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel.
It was the first exercise of such character organised for the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces in a densely populated urban area. In the past such drills were held in a forested area or sparsely populated rural areas in Alytus District.
The exercise is completed according to a special scenario focusing on the establishment and maintenance of friendly relations with local community and collaboration with it.
"The military are helpless without the society. It's a thing every soldier knows, however, it is hard to get practical evidence because nearly all our training is carried out in unpopulated areas. That is way this exercise is a wonderful opportunity for us, we have acquired experience not only in cooperation with the allies but also in collective work with local institutions an people," the officer conducting the exercise said.
The U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel said that they were doing both, sharing and acquiring considerable experience at the exercise.
"Such exercises enhance capabilities of ensuring stability and security of both, Lithuania and the United States. Equipment, weaponry and other types of provision is not the sole indicator of success. Cooperation with partners and sharing experience is one of the most powerful weapons for completing tasks and seeking common goals. We are happy to obtain this opportunity to share experience with Lithuanian forces," said commander of the U.S. special operations forces team that had been involved in the exercise. Although U.S. special operations forces personnel train in joint exercises with their Lithuanian counterpart son a permanent basis, this was the first joint training in an urban area.
Mayor of Alytus Municipality Jurgis Krasnickas expressed happiness about the cooperation between the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the population of the city of Alytus. "Hard training makes fighting easier, however, my wish to you is that the exercise legend would never materialise", the Mayor said.
Representatives of the Alytus District Police Headquarters were convinced the exercise was beneficial for the citizens of Alytus too. "I believe that such an exercise is helpful for people, authorities and officers of the city. Primarily the officers in charge communicate and coordinate among themselves during inter-institutional exercises in order to achieve the exercise goal and neither to suffer nor to cause damage," Deputy Chief of the Alytus District Police Headquarters Alvydas Jurgelevičius said.
In the exercise troops of the Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces, National Defence Volunteer Force, Military Police, and the Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Force trained together with personnel of the Alytus District Police Headquarters, the State Border Guard, and the Officer Antanas Juozapavičius 1st Territorial Riflemen Unit.
The training audience extends sincere gratitude to the Municipality of Alytus, Fire and Rescue Service of Alytus, and representatives of different institutions and organisations of Alytus city and district for the opportunity to reach the exercise objectives using the infrastructure of Alytus.
