On August 2, in the change of command ceremony, which was held held in Rukla, Vice-Minister of the National Defence of Lithuania, Mr. Vytautas Umbrasas, thanked NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group servicemen for their excellent service in Lithuania.
"Your contribution to cooperation is visible, it is assured and deterrent, it is invaluable to Lithuania and the region, to Europe and to the security of the whole NATO alliance," Mr. V. Umbrasas, Vice-Minister of the National Defence said at the ceremony. To mark the outstanding service, he awarded the outgoing commander LT Col W. R. Otto with the National Defense System Medal For Merits.
For the exceptional personal contribution ensuring successful activity of the Battle Group Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Brig Gen V. Rupšys on behalf of the Lithuanian Chief of Defence presented to the Battle Group Commander Lt Col W. R. Otto the flag of Lithuania, symbolizing contribution to the state's security.
Col Mindaugas Steponavičius, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade “Iron Wolf”, to which Battle Group is assigned, presented NATO flag to the new Commander of the Battle Group Lt Col R. Braun.
The ceremony in Rukla was also attended by Lithuanian and Allied military units’ commanders, NATO states’ ambassadors, defense attachés, representatives of NATO headquarters and institutions.
The incoming commander Lt Col R. Braun started his service in the German Armed Forces in 1997. During the service period, the officer served in various positions, and from September 2017 has been commanding the 393rd Tank Battalion, deployed in Bad Frankenhausene. Lt Col R. Braun served in multinational missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group deplyed in Rukla from the beginning of 2017 is led by Germany. Personnel and weapons to the NATO eFP Battle Group are also contributed by Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Iceland. In total, the strength of the multinational unit is roughly 1,200.
The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group maintains its high readiness and interoperability level through constant training and preparation for collective defence. Based in the Training Regiment in Rukla, the unit is integrated into the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Armed FOrces and continually trains in collective defence training and exercises.
Deployment of NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland was a decision of NATO leaders taken in July 2016. The forces are primarily a response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, build-up of military potential and demonstration of military power in the region.
