The 15th rotation of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-15) attended a Task Group Course at the Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force and the Gaižiūnai Training Area from January 9 to 27.
During the course troops are instructed on the nuances of planning tactical tasks on a mission, drill skills of patrolling, contact, base protection, riot suppression and conducting other tasks typical to the mission in Afghanistan. A complex exercise will test the troops' ability to apply the new knowledge in a bigger formation and conclude the course.
Officers of the Public Security Service assist the shift in preparing for the multinational deployment by conducting riot suppression and crowd control drills. Representatives of the Public Security Service will be deployed to the mission region in the province of Ghor as well where they will join the Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) training local policemen.
PRT-15 began preparations for the mission in Afghanistan last September. They have covered so far the courses of live firing from weapons used in the mission area, refresher courses, tactics of riot suppression, tactics of using improvised explosive devices, calling in artillery and air-delivered fire support, familiarized with Afghanistan's history and culture. The fluency of the training activities is heavily influenced by the experience of multinational deployments possessed by the majority of the new shift.
PRT-15 formed mainly by the personnel of the Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion will be deployed to Afghanistan this spring. The shift and the entire military contingent of Chaghcharan PRT will be led by the commander of the Battalion, Maj Artūras Radvilas. It is going to be a second shift of Lithuanian peacekeepers provided chiefly by the Birutė Battalion.
Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian and military mission, a part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), launched in the province in summer of 2005. The essential task of the mission is to support Afghan government in extending its authority in the province, ensuring security and creating conditions for provincial reconstruction. Staff of the Lithuanian-led PRT in Chaghcharan includes Georgia's, Japan's, US, Poland's, Finland's, and Ukraine's representatives alongside Lithuanian military and civilian personnel.
On the 4th of January, 2012, the town of Chaghcharan and the surrounding area were approved to joint the transfer of responsibility process in Chaghcharan. Responsibility of local security forces, i.e. ANA units and police, for the security in their country is gradually increased since then. The key role of Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT is training of the Afghan National Security Forces with a focus on instructions.
PIO for PRT-15 1st Lt Jurgis Norvaiša.
Photos by 1st Lt Andrius Česnauskas.
