On February 7 a four-day long command post exercise Smart Wolf II ended. In the exercise the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf prepared for the exercise Yellow Knight to be organised by the Danish Division in April 2013 in Denmark.
During Smart Wolf II the staff of the MIB Iron Wolf deployed and installed main, rear and tactical command posts, from where command to the Brigade's units and subdivisions was provided throughout the operational part of the exercise. The exercise involved approximately 300 troops training in an operations area of 120 square kilometres.
In the active phase of the exercise staffs of the Brigade and assigned units carried out offensive operations based on the tasks established by the superior command and approved for completion in the planning phase. In the course of the exercise tactical operations centre of the Brigade's Headquarters as well the headquarters of the battalions searched for solutions in a variety of tactical situations on the basis of a scenario generated by a simulation and control group.
The active phase was conducted for 24 hours non-stop with uninterrupted command and control provided - the functions of the main command post were carried out by the tactical command post as the former was changing location.
"Tactical Operations Centre of the Brigade was able to estimate properly the value of interoperability among divisions. Concerted actions of divisions and the superior command is a guarantee of a successful completion of an operation," Chief of the Command Headquarters of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Lt Col Mindaugas Steponavičius said in the hot wash-up after the exercise.
According to Lt Col M. Steponavičius, it is possible to complete a detailed planning of reconnaissance operations and routes for divisions' approach, to allow for actions to deceive hostile forces, or to select a suitable locality for the planned actions. However, the planning part will prove useless if in the execution part divisions of the superior command will not be able to coordinate their actions.
Command posts in the exercise were also deployed by the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas, the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis and the Lithuanian Duke Vaidotas Mechanised Infantry Battalions. The training event also involved military personnel from the General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, the Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Force, the Military Medical Service and the Military Police.
This year the staff of the MIB Iron Wolf is training to plan and execute offensive operations while last year their combat training was oriented towards offensive operations. Command post exercises concentrate on the decision-making process and internal procedures and interoperability of a headquarters.
Acting PAO of the MIB Iron Wolf Command Capt Rimvydas Švedas, phone no. 00370 614 35693, email: rimvydas.svedas@mil.lt
Photos by - Capt R. Švedas
