On June 5 Media and Distinguished Visitor Day of the multinational exercise "Saber Strike 2013" took place in the Pabradės Training Area of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The event was attended by President of the Republic of Lithuania HE Dalia Grybauskaitė, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas and Minister of the Interior Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas, members of the Semas and the Committee on National Security and Defence, leadership of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, ambassadors and defence attachés of foreign states based in Lithuania, commanders of the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) and the Pennsylvania National Guard, commander of the NATO Multinational Corp North East (MNC NE), representatives of municipal institutions, administration of Švenčionių district, and others.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė stated that the exercise was an excellent example of cooperation between the Baltic States and the United States of America. By participating in various exercises and gaining experience in multinational operations, the countries get ready to combat international threats and, in case of crises in the region, to ensure the security of the Baltic region, according to the Press Service of the President.
Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius underlined the importance of the fact that troops were gaining realistic experience necessary for participation in multinational operations and in particular - the fact that NATO allies were also taking part in the training event.
Participants of "Saber Strike 2013" presented to the guests the course of the exercise and the activities of command posts of the participating states. The guests were also able to observe a simulation of an attack on a command post and a demonstration programme by a U.S. expeditionary support unit.
"Saber Strike 2013" is a part of cooperation developed by the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) and the Baltic States for three years already. The training event takes place simultaneously in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
This year "Saber Strike 2013" involves representatives from Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast, U.S. Army Europe and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the U.S. Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, and the U.S. Army Cadet Command alongside the Baltic States and the U.S.A. There is over 1 thousand of exercise participants in the part of the exercise hosted by Lithuania and the total of over 2 thousand - in all the three countries.
In several training sites in Estonia and Lithuania brigade-level staff planning procedures are improved while the Adazi range, Latvia, hosts a company-level tactical field exercise. U.S. close air support operations are also integrated in "Saber Strike 2013" and an expeditionary medical support unit has been deployed in Pabradė.
This year the exercise trains completion of conventional national defence operations as well as planning and completion of defensive, offensive, fire-support and others types of military operations.
"Saber Strike 2013" is unique for having Lithuania as the host country, for the involvement of the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast and Finland, and for the observers delegated by Sweden and Norway. The United States have deployed an expeditionary support unit for the exercise for the first time, etc.
Exercise participants and observers from Estonia, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Poland, Norway, Finland and the HQ MNC NE will attend the exercise alongside the U.S military personnel.
More information at: PAO for the multinational exercise "Saber Strike 2013" Capt Marius Varna, phone no. 00370 686 35 407.
Photo by Alfredas Pliadis (MOD)
