On October 19-23 the 5th Territorial Unit of Vytis Military District, National Defence Volunteer Force (NDVF), are on evaluation field training exercise Strong Shield 5.2. in the northern part of Lithuania. In total, the exercise is attended by roughly 1,200 soldiers from Lithuania, Belgium, Denmark, US, Georgia, and Latvia.
This year volunteer soldiers from the Georgian Armed Forces take part in an exercise in Lithuania for the first time.
The central aim of Exercise Strong Shield 5.2 is to hone the ability of the 5th Territorial Unit of NDVF Vytis Military District to plan, prepare for and implement defensive operations defined in the armed defence of state plans through effective interaction and coordination with other units operating together or in the same area of operations.
The exercise puts to test such abilities as completion of an operation on real terrain and in real time. Soldiers apply decision-making procedures to practice operational planning and enhance leadership skills. The main assignments of defensive operations trained at the exercise are ambush, reconnaissance, and patrol. The exercise will help develop a model for training NDVF units in the future.
The exercise employs Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System to draw training conditions as close to reality as possible.
The main training audience of Exercise Strong Shield 5.2 is the headquarters of the 5th Territorial Unit of NDVF Vytis Military District and the nine infantry companies comprising the territorial unit stationed in Panevėžys, Pasvalys, Kupiškis, Anykščiai, Rokiškis, Utena and Zarasai. Alongside with them are training the current US rotational force in Lithuania from 2-503, 173rd Airborne Brigade, while the opposing force is acted out by the Belgian rotational force.
Subunits of the NDVF 5th Territorial Unit will train in the areas of responsibility day and night. The majority of the exercise tasks are set in civilian areas, which has been agreed in advance with their owners or state authorities. The exercise employs military vehicles, simulants (blank, smoke and sound ammunition) but action does not take place in urban areas. The active phase of the exercise will run on October 21-23.
According to the exercise scenario, the NDVF 5th Territorial Units is tasked to carry out harassing operations against the assault of hostile forces in a designated area of operation, to prevent them from crossing state border or moving freely in the territory, to facilitate deployment and start of an offensive operation of allied forces. Even though is a fictional scenario, it has been developed on the basis of up-to-date warfare standards and feasible challenges to regional security.
On October 21 participants of Strong Shield 5.2 will invite community of Rokiškis to meet them and see vehicles and weapons used at the exercise in Independence Square.
On October 23 the exercise will be officially closed at 14-1700 hrs in front of the city council office of Panevėžys, a display of weaponry and vehicles will be put on, announcements delivered, and discussions on security matters will take place.
Exercise Strong Shield 5.2 co-organised by General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre and NDVF HQ also involves training audience from other NDVF territorial units, Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Mechanised Infantry Battalion, and other units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Belgian soldiers training in Exercise Strong Shield 5.2 also attend wide spectrum operations Exercise Baltic Piranha 2016 running in Lithuania throughout October. The exercise involves over 1,000 Belgian, Lithuanian and US troops.
The National Defence Volunteer Force was officially established on 17 January 1991 under the name of the Voluntary National Defence Service. NDVF is an integral part of the Lithuanian Land Force. It is manned by volunteer ad professional soldiers. Currently NDVF consists of 4500 volunteer and 500 regular troops in the organisation of the e HQ and six territorial units covering the whole territory of Lithuania: Alytus, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Vilnius.
POC - NDVF PAO Captain Paulius Babilas, e-mail - paulius.babilas@mil.lt, 00370 618 40469
NDVF photos
