Retired Colonel William A. Forkner, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa, was presented with the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Medal for Distinguished Service for long-lasting cooperation, trust and support. The medal was bestowed on the U.S. representative by Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command Brig Gen Gintaras Zenkevičius on March 20 during a joint training event of Lithuanian and U.S forces at the Brigadier General K.Veverskis Training Area in Kazlų Rūda.
The decoration was presented to head of training area development programme W. Forkner in recognition of his personal contribution to initiating and developing new projects of air support capabilities in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. In the autumn of 2018 an aviation firing range complying with NATO standards was installed and certified at the Training Area in Kazlų Rūda. The firing range is suitable for aircraft to fire at ground-based targets and tactical air traffic controllers to train acting in concert with air capabilities.
Photo credit: Laisvūnas Vizbaras
