April 11, at a ceremony in Ukmergė the unit colors and key elements of the Lithuanian Land Force were passed to the 1st Lithuanian Armed Forces Division, as of that day comprising Lithuania’s heaviest Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, the Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius Infantry Brigade Griffin and Col Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion. Also, the Division was assigned to the NATO Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) on the same day.
“An Armed Forces that acts in a coordinated manner and large formations is the foundation of real deterrence and defence. Lithuania’s full-fledged incorporation in the NATO Multinational Corps Northeast sends a clear message to the enemy: we are determined and able to defend Lithuania and the region together,” said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.
Military units were passed under the command of the 1st Division over a year in of the reconstructed Division Headquarters staff’s work – personnel training, procedural updates, preparation to take in and C2 the units. The work was certified at Exercise Warfighter 26-3, a U.S. organized combat readiness command post exercise in Germany: the Division Command Staff and elements were recognized ready for planning and executing operations together wand with the Allies.
“The recent exercise in Germany has demonstrated clearly that the National Division Command Staff have reached the Initial Operational Capability. This means we are ready for independent planning and execution of operations, integration of Division enablers, and coordinated operation with the Allies in composition of a Corps. Today with progress from fragmented capability to a solid warfighting power as we integrate both of the Brigades in the Division. The evolution has been significantly backed by the Pennsylvania National Guard, the U.S. Army V Corps and the NATO Multinational Corps Northeast –we thank you all for the mentorship, training opportunities and assistance,” said Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
“We, the Land Force, understand this as taking a higher step and enabling the Division to act with other units in land domain – rendering combat and support assistance, and coordinating operations of territorial defence units, the Division and the Allies. And in peacetime – by maintaining the combat readiness level designated by the Chief of Defence,” said Commander Lithuanian Land Force Brigadier General Nerijus Stankevičius.
Development of the unit, as of now strengthened by major brigades, will continue: the 1st Division will eventually incorporate the currently developed Brigade Aukštaitija, air defence, artillery and engineer regiments, while the Brigades will be strengthened with tank and infantry fighting vehicle battalions, amounting to a qualitative and quantitative advantage in warfighting as compared to the previous level.
“Military personnel assigned to the Division have been building theirs skills in joint training events with the U.S. Army V Corps, NATO Multinational Corps Northeast, the German 1st and 10th Divisions, and the PANG 28th Division. We have the expertise and skills to continue the work we have started. We are ready to receive and operate the acquired equipment, technology and weaponry – from UAS to firepower and battlefield control multipliers. Today the 1st Division insignia is our quality mark – a standard of discipline, readiness and combat power,” said Commander of the 1st Division Brigadier General Aurelijus Alasauskas at the ceremony.
The requirement for NATO Allies to develop national divisions as the main tactical unit was formally proposed at the NATO Summit in Madrid in 2022 and approved in Lithuania in May 2023 at the State Defence Council in view of the existing threats and in response to the NATO regional defence plans. The fully formed Lithuanian Land Force Division will be one of the components of territorial land defence of Lithuania with NATO Allies. The Division will enable integrated operations with other national NATO divisions through equal maneuver, fire support, logistic, reconnaissance, and other capacities.
The 1st Division of the Lithuanian Armed Forces was re-established in January 2025 in a revival of a traditional unit of the Commonwealth of Both Nations founded 250 yeas ago. The unit is scheduled to reach Full Operational Capability in 2030.
Photo credits: A. Pliadis
Info credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces
