On September 21 the U.S. rotational battalions will change over during a ceremony at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area at Pabradė. The incoming U.S. rotation will be welcomed by Vice Minister of National Defence Žilvinas Tomkus and Commander of the Lithuanian Lad Force Brigadier General Artūras Radvilas.
Next rotation of the U.S. Army commencing service in Lithuania is formed by the Hounds of the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment (3-67) and the Battle Kings, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery (1-9). The American troops bring M1A2 Abrams tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, trucks, ATVs and other necessary military equipment.
The battalion has deployed for the 9-month rotation from its homebase in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The incoming rotation replaces the Mustangs (1-8), 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, and the Rolling Thunder (3-16), 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
The United States has stepped up force presence in the Baltic States this year and its force status has been changed to uninterrupted rotational deployment. Thus the United States, Lithuania’s strategic partner and one of the key Allies in ensuring the European security, demonstrates its NATO collective defence commitment ensuring our security since the wake of the Russian war in Ukraine.
Photo credit: MoD / A. Pliadis