From February 25 to 28 certification exercise PRT-17 Challenge 2013 using the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation System (JCATS) takes place at the General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre in Nemenčinė (Vilnius Distr.). At the exercise the 17th shift of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-17) train operating in various situations on the ground in the province of Ghor, Afghanistan.
A week-long exercise is the conclusive phase of the round of training before deployment to the International Security assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan, it will evaluate the PRT-17 training which has been conducted for over 6 months. The exercise certifies staff work of the PRT-17: operational planning, coherence among staff sections and information transmission to subdivisions, ability to respond to emerging situations, decision-making, capacity of personnel to interact with local population, and completion of other tasks.
The exercise employs the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation System (JCATS) installed at the Warfare Training Centre to simulate a manifold of tasks correspondent to real-life situation on the ground.
The JCATS is used to simulate movement of units in the mission area, medical evacuation, demonstrations by local people, blasts of IEDs on the roads, cooperation with governmental organisations and NGOs, counsels with representatives of local administration, and other tasks.
The majority in the directing staff, and observers' and evaluators' staffs of the exercise have previous experience from the Lithuanian-led mission in Afghanistan. Their experience and skills help drawing the exercise as close to the real situation on the ground in Afghanistan as possible for the benefit of the PRT-17 personnel.
"Exercise PRT-17 Challenge 2013 is a step in a series of training. The outcome of the PRT-17 Challenge 2013 will be put to test in the final field exercise in the end of March," Exercise Directing Officer Lt Col Mindaugas Steponavičius said.
In the end of March the final field exercise will be held in a military training area where the PRT-17 personnel will carry out tasks designed on the basis of real situations the mission area the province of Ghor, Afghanistan.
The final shift of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team which will close Lithuania's mission in Ghor is formed on the basis of the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf four years since its first deployment in 2009 with the PRT-9. The final shift of the PRT is expected to be deployed to Afghanistan in May.
POC - PAO for the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Capt Liutauras Mickevičius, cell phone no. 00370 682 40381, email: liutauras.mickevicius@mil.lt
Photos by Capt Liurauras Mickevičius, Capt Ainaras Jonaitis, and 1st Lt Andrius Česnauskas
