On June 16 a dynamic display preceded closing ceremony of the part of multinational Exercise Iron Wolf 2016 held at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė.
"In the context of the current geopolitical situation it is critical to have multinational military exercises in our region. I welcome very much the annually increasing numbers of allied and partner forces training in Lithuania. Exercises offer a great format for international cooperation, an excellent place for soldiers to get to know each other, share experience and hone cohesion," Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General said in front of the parade.
Over 2,000 soldiers with Duke Vaidotas and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Battalions, majority of whom (nearly 900 private recruits), are conscripts of the Continuous Mandatory Initial Military Service trained at Exercise Iron Wolf 2016 in Pabradė. They completed tasks side by side with NATO allies from the Józef Haller 12th Mechanised Brigade in Szczecin, Poland, and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army.
A B-52 strategic bomber of the U.S. Air Force and two L-39 Albatros light assault aircraft of the Lithuanian Air Force provided air support to ground troops during the operation.
The operation was conducted in the presence of President of the Republic of Lithuania HE Dalia Grybauskaitė, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas, Vice Minister of National Defence Antanas Valys, Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Major General Almantas Leika, Chief of the Joint Staff Brigadier General Vilmantas Tamošaitis, Commander of the 29th Infantry Division (US) Brigadier General Blake C. Ortner, Ambassador of France in Lithuania HE Philippe Jeantaud, Defence Attachés, and other distinguished guests.
After the end of Exercise Iron Wolf 2016 in Pabardė, soldiers of the Polish Brigade and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard will depart for home bases over the nearest days, while the rotating troops with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment will return to Rukla to continue training with Lithuanian soldiers.
Multinational Exercise Iron Wolf is a part of Exercise Saber Strike annually held in the Baltic region. In total, over 5 thousand soldiers from 7 NATO countries are training in Lithuania at the same time. The more extensive part of Iron Wolf currently is and will be running until June 21.
Credits: Captain Paulius Babilas and Master Sergeant Gintautas Mauricas
Video by Sgt Sp 1st Class Lukas Kalvaitis: https://youtu.be/P2hRHKBB10c
More about the Exercise: http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/international_military_exercises/military_exercises_2016/saber_strike_2016_4630.html
PAO for the Lithuanian Land Force Captain Donatas Suchockis, 00370 5 278 5091, 00370 640 45380, e- mail: donatas.suchockis@mil.lt
