VILNIUS - Training exercises for the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian members of the Baltic Battalion staff are to be conducted Aug. 4-6 in the Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Lithuania, reports news agency ELTA. The training will be conducted around the Combat Readiness Plan 2009, to improve soldiers' skills in planning and fulfilling the full range of NATO Response Force tasks.
The Baltic Battalion personnel will focus on improvements to operational planning skills, by BALTBAT staff, in the military decision making processes. Changes will also be introduced for standard procedures, with lessons learned from the 'Baltic Eagle 09' exercise, which took place at the Adazi Military Zone in Latvia, to be applied.
The Baltic Battalion was established in 2007 by a joint agreement of the Baltic States. The Baltic countries contribute about 800 soldiers to the Battalion; more than 500 of the BALTBAT personnel are Lithuanian who also hold positions of authority.
Upon signing the agreement Estonia's, Latvia's and Lithuania's armed forces arranged to provide an infantry company each, combat support elements, and other capabilities for the Battalion. Each of the countries is responsible for providing logistic support for its national contingent.
At the end of July 2009, Latvia reduced its contribution to the Battalion due to its difficult economic situation, and Lithuania committed itself to contribute a company and anti-tank platoon, while Estonia added de-mining divisions.
The Battalion will start its six-month standby period as part of the land component in the 14th rotation of the NATO Response Force (NRF) in the beginning of 2010. The NRF is a highly ready and technologically advanced force made up of land, air, sea and special forces' components that can deploy quickly wherever needed.
