This week the German troops will commence their training in Lithuania which is due to run till July. Throughout the rotation Germans will mainly train alongside soldiers of Algirdas Battalion.
The training schedule includes individual training, live fire, operational planning, operation in urban and forested areas, offensive, defensive and other tasks. The Reconnaissance Platoon of the 291st Infantry Battalion will train performing reconnaissance assignments while heavy weaponry platoon will attend Exercise Hunter 2016 for anti-tank units in Pabradė.
Field training exercise (FTX) Iron Wolf 2016 Lithuania in June will be the main phase of the German training in Lithuania. An additional company and staff personnel are expected to be sent in in June from the 291st Infantry Battalion for Iron Wolf 2016 which will also involve forces from other NATO and partner nations: Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, the U.S., etc.
Roughly 250 German soldiers who came to Lithuania for joint training brought to take part in joint training in Lithuania includes Boxer infantry fighting vehicles, Fennek armoured reconnaissance ATVs, Fuchs armoured personnel carriers, and other types of equipment. The German soldiers and equipment are deployed at the Duke Vaidotas Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, Lithuanian Land Force, in Rukla and Gaižiūnai Training Area.
The current German rotation is planned to be replaced by a new shift from an artillery unit in July.
As the assurance measures agreed at NATO for the Baltic region have been enhanced since spring 2014, rotational U.S. land forces are shifting in Lithuania, and companies of Belgian, Danish, German, Hungarian, Luxembourg’s, Portuguese were deployed for a several month-training in Lithuania.
In February 2016 NATO Defence Ministers agreed on a keystone decision in Brussels to strengthen allied military presence on the eastern flank of NATO. Lithuania’s seeks to have an international battalion deployed on its territory which would be prepared for combat action, integrated with national forces, and ready to respond immediately in case of aggression. Lithuania is stepping up its national defence capabilities and is ready to provide full Host Nation Support for allied troops.
