MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

      Litvanske oružane snage sastoje se od 14.500 aktivnih pripadnika, od kojih su 2100 civilne osobe. Redovno služenje vojnog roka ukinuto je 2008. godine. Doktrina oružanih snaga je koncept totalne i sveobuhvatne obrane. Cilj je pripremiti litvansko društvo za sveobuhvatnu obranu, uz integraciju u zapadne obrambene sisteme. Ministarstvo obrane je zaduženo za borbene snage, operacije potraga i spašavanja te obavještajne aktivnosti. Oružane snage Litvanije čine Kopnena vojska, Zrakoplovstvo, Mornarica, Snage za specijalne operacije i druge jedinice, kao što su Komanda logistike, Komanda za doktrinu i obuku, bataljon glavnog stožera te Vojna policija.

      Jedinice direktno podređene zapovjedniku obrane su Snage za specijalne operacije i Vojna policija. Rezervne snage su pod direktnom komandom Litvanskih nacionalnih dobrovoljačkih obrambenih snaga.

      The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of  14,500 active personnel (2,100 of them - civilian). Conscription was ended in September 2008. Lithuania's defence system is based on the concept of "total and unconditional defence" mandated by Lithuania's national Security strategy. The goal of Lithuania's defence policy is to prepare their society for general defence and to integrate Lithuania into Western security and defence structures. The defence ministry is responsible for combat forces, search and rescue, and intelligence operations.

      The Lithuanian Armed Forces incorporate the Lithuanian Land Forces, Lithuanian  Air Force, Lithuanian Naval Force, Lithuanian Special Operations Force and other units: Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Headquarters Battalion, Military Police. Directly subordinated to the Chief of Defence are the Special Operations Forces and Military Police. The Reserve Forces are under command of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces.

GROUND FORCES  KOPNENA VOJSKA

"IRON WOLF" INFANTRY MOTORIZED BRIG. MEHANIZIRANA PJEŠADIJSKA BRIG. "ŽELJEZNI VUK"

      Motroizirana pješadijska brigada „Željezni vuk“ (Motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada "Geležinis vilkas") je najveća jedinica Kopnene vojske. Ova brigada aktivno učestvuje u NATO operacijama, kao i zajedničkim vježbama. Ime je vezano uz staru srednjovjekovnu legendu iz grada Vilniusa. Trenutno brigadu čine tri mehanizrana bataljona (Veliki vojvoda Algirdas,  Veliki vojvoda Kestutis i Veliki vojvoda Vaidotas) te Artiljerijski bataljon General Romualdas Giedraitis. Bataljoni su raspoređeni u Rukli i Taurage-u. Pripadnici brigade redovito učestvuju na vježbama raznih nivoa, kako u zemlji, tako i van nje. Učestvovali su u nekoliko misija UN-a i NATO-a (kao Afganistan), a vrše i redovite rotacije jedinica u snagama NATO-a, Response Force (NRF) te Borbenoj grupi Evropske unije (EU BG).

      The soldiers of the brigade continually participate in exercises of various levels in Lithuania and as in abroad as well. Also they are conducting peace keeping operations and contribute to the execution of the NATO led international operation in Afghanistan. The soldiers of the brigade conduct stand-by periods in the NATO Response Force (NRF) and European Union Battle Group (EU BG).

GENERAL ROMUALDAS GIEDRAITIS ARTILLERY BATTALION

GENERAL ROMUALDAS GIEDRAITIS ARTILJERIJSKI BATALJON

      Artiljerijski bataljon General Romualdas Giedraitis, opremljen 105 mm haubicama, osnovan je 12/2000. godine zajedničkim snagama Danske i Litvanije. Danci su poklonili topove, transportna vozila i granate. Glavna zadaća ovog bataljona je podrška pješadiji. Struktura ove jedinice je slična onoj pješadijskog bataljona (i po broju ljudi isto). Bataljon se sastoji od štaba, štabne baterije i tri vatrene baterije. U slučaju potrebe, bataljon se „razdvaja“ na manje jedinice i simultano učestvuje u operacijama na različitim područjima.

      The General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, equipped with 105mm howitzers, was founded in December 2000, under a joint Lithuanian-Danish project - LITART. The Danish Army provided material and methodical assistance in the founding of the artillery unit. Main role of the battalion's is to support infantry. Artillery Battalion is similar to a standard infantry battalion in size. Battalion comprises the staff, HQ battery, and three fire batteries. In case of necessity the Battalion would be capable to deploy divided into smaller combat units in several places simultaneously.

LITHUANIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE VOLUNTEER FORCES 

LITVANSKE NACIONALNE DOBROVOLJAČKE OBRAMBENE SNAGE

      Litvanske nacionalne obrambene snage (na litvanskom: Krašto apsaugos savanorių pajėgos (KASP)) su važan dio obrambenih snaga. Dobrovoljačke snage su službeno formirane 17. 12. 1991. godine zakonom donešenim od strane Vrhovnog vijeća Litvanije. Ovaj Zakon je ustvari legalizirao već postojeće snage, od kojih su neke nastale još u 1990-toj. 2003. godine, ove jedinice postaju sastavni dio Kopnene vojske. Dobrovoljačke nacionalne obrambene snage reorganiziraju se u Nacionalne obrambene dobrovoljačke snage. Broje oko 5000 dobrovoljaca i oko 800 profesionalnih vojnika.

      The National Defence Volunteer Forces or NDVF (Lithuanian: Krašto apsaugos savanorių pajėgos (KASP), previously Savanoriškoji krašto apsaugos tarnyba (SKAT)) is an important part of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Volunteer forces were officially established on 17 January 1991 by the law of the Supreme Council of Lithuania. This decision made legal already existing volunteer formations that began appearing as early as 1990. In 2003 Volunteer Force was integrated into the Lithuanian Land Force. Voluntary National Defence Service was reorganised into the National Defence Volunteer Force. There are around 5000 volunteers and around 800 professional soldiers in the force.

Dr JONAS BASANAVIČIUS MILITARY MEDICAL SERVICE 

Dr. JONAS BASANAVIČIUS VOJNA MEDICINSKA SLUŽBA

      Počeci vojne medicine u Litvaniji vežu se uz liječnike koji su radili kao vojni liječnici vojske Carske Rusije (19. vijek). 22. 02. 1991. godine je ponovnog kreiranja Vojne medicinske službe kojoj se u naziv dodaje ime Dr. Jonasa Basanavičius-a. Ovu službu čine Vojni medicinski centar u Kaunasu, Vojni rehabilitacijski centar u Druskininkai, zatim primarni centri vojne medicine u rodovima i službama oružanih snaga. Osoblje Vojnomedicinske službe pruža liječničku potporu vojnim operacijama oružanih snaga u zemlji i međunarodnim misijama. Osim ovih zadataka, osoblje se angažira u slučajevima katastrofa, većih nesreća i drugih kriznih situacija.

      The beginning of professional military medicine in Lithuania is having link with the XIX century when a majority of renowned Lithuanian medics served as military medics in the units of Czarist Russia's army. After the independence of Lithuania was restored on 22 February 1991 Military Medical Service was established and took over the responsibilities and job of Sanitation Department. Structure of modern MD Jonas Basanavičius Military Medical Service includes Military Medicine Center in Kaunas, Military Rehabilitation Center in Druskininkai, Primary Military Health Care Centers and their departments in units and services. Military medical personnel ensure medical support for military operations of the Armed Forces' branches and subdivisions in Lithuania and beyond its boundaries in correspondence with NATO standards, assist government and municipality institutions in extreme conditions.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES   SNAGE ZA SPECIJALNE OPERACIJE

      Beginning of formation of Lithuanian special forces was 1995. The force was a moderate military unit that later developed into a separate branch of Lithuanian Armed Forces. Special Forces were officially established in 2002 with unification of all special operations units under one staff into the Special Operations Unit (SOU). On 3 April 2008 Lithuanian Armed Forces Special Operations Unit became de jure Special Operations Forces (SOF). Core of Special Operations Forces is made of Special Purpose Service, Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion, Combat Divers Service, Special Operations Element of Lithuanian Air Force is subordinate to Special Operations Forces in the level of management. Special Operations Forces are manned along the principles of voluntary accession, selection and special training.

      U suradnji sa Estonijon i Litvom osnovan je Baltički bataljon BALBAT i osnovana je i zajednička mornarička jedinica BALTRON koji su osposobljeni za međunarodne operacije.

      Latvia cooperates with Estonia and Latvia in the joint infantry battalion BALTBAT and naval squadron BALTRON which are available for peacekeeping operations.

BALTIC DEFENCE COLLEGE   BALTIČKI ODBRAMBENI FAKULTET

      Baltički odbrambeni koledž u Tartuu, Estonija (BALTDEFCOL) je multinacionalno vojno učilište, koje su osnovale tri baltičke države (Estonija, Latvija i Litva) 1999. godine. Služi kao centar strateških i operativnih istraživanja i pruža profesionalno vojno obrazovanje srednjim i višim službenicima i državnim dužnosnicima iz država osnivačica, drugih država članica Evropske unije (EU) i zemalja Sjevernoatlantskog saveza (NATO), kao i drugih evropskih zemalja uključujući Armeniju, Azerbajdžan, Bosnu i Hercegovinu, Gruziju, Moldaviju, Crnu Goru, Srbiju i Ukrajinu.

      The Baltic Defence College in Tartu, Estonia (BALTDEFCOL) is a multinational military college, established by the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) in 1999. It serves as a centre of strategic and operational research and provides professional military education to intermediate- and senior-level officers and government officials from the founding states, other member states of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries, as well as other European countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine.

OTHER INSIGNIAS   DRUGE OZNAKE

SLEEVE FLAG   ZASTAVA SA RUKAVA

      Zastava je prvobitno dizajnirana 1918. godine i ponovo je ušla u upotrebu 1988. godine. Žuto predstavlja sunce, svijetlo i božansku boju. Zeleno simbolizira ljepotu prirode, slobodu i nadu, dok je crveno boja zemlje, hrabrosti i krvi prolivene za slobodu Litvanije.

      The flag was officially designated in 1918, and was re-instituted in 1988. Yellow represents the sun, light, and goodness, green symbolizes the beauty of nature, freedom, and hope, and red stands for the land, courage, and the blood spilled for Lithuania.

SLEEVE TABS  OZNAKE SA RUKAVA

COLUMNS OF GEDIMINAS    STUPOVI GEDIMINASA

      Stupovi Gediminasa (litvanski: Gediminaičių stulpai) su jedni od najranijih simbola Litvanije i prvi grb. Korišten je u Velikom vojvodstvu Litvanije prvotno kao osobni pečat vladara. Ime „Supovi Gediminisa“ nastaje u 19. vijeku i nadjenuo ga je povjesničar Teodor Narbutt koji je smatrao da je to bio znak Gediminasa, velikog vojvode, mada ne postoji niti jedan pouzdan podatak da je to bilo tako. Ovaj je znak korišten na mnogim zastavama i grbovima, pa tako i vojnim i policijskim.

      The Columns of Gediminas or Pillars of Gediminids (Lithuanian: Gediminaičių stulpai) are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and one of its historical coats of arms. They were used in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, initially as a rulers' personal insignia, a state symbol, and later as a part of heraldic signs of leading aristocracy. The name "Columns of Gediminas" was given in the 19th century by historian Teodor Narbutt, who supposed that the symbol was Gediminas' insignia. The more exact name of the symbol is the Pillars of Gediminids, since there is no direct evidence of its connection with Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

MULTINATIONAL CORPS NORTH EAST  MULTINACIONALNI KOPUS SJEVERO-ISTOK

      1997. ministri obrane Danske, Njemačke i Poljske odlučili su osnovati dansko-njemačko-poljski korpus. Ovaj je korpus trebao dobiti naziv Multinacionalni korpus Sjeveroistok (Multinational Corps Northeast, MNC NE). Multinacionalni korpus Sjeveroistok formiran je 18. rujna 1999. u Szczecinu u Poljskoj, koji je postao njegovo sjedište. Razvio se iz dugogodišnjeg jedinog multinacionalnog korpusa u NATO-u, savezničkih kopnenih snaga Schleswig-Holstein i Jutland (LANDJUT). Trinacionalna radna skupina osnovana je nakon odluke iz srpnja 1997. da Poljska treba biti primljena u NATO. Multinacionalni korpus Sjeveroistok ima ključnu funkciju u integraciji novih država članica NATO-a.

      In July 1997, Ministers of Defence of Denmark, Germany and Poland decided to establish a Danish-German-Polish Corps. This corps was to be named Multinational Corps Northeast. Multinational Corps Northeast was formed on 18 September 1999 at Szczecin, Poland, which became its headquarters. It evolved from what was for many years the only multinational corps in NATO, Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland  (LANDJUT). A tri-national working group was established following the July 1997 decision that Poland was to be admitted to NATO. Multinational Corps North East has a key function in the integration of new NATO member states.

Multinacionalni korpus Sjeveroistok

Multinacionalni korpus Sjeveroistok

Multinacionalni korpus Sjeveroistok

      Od 2004. godine članice postaju Estonija, Latvija i Litva. 2005. Slovačka, Češka - 2005. SAD 2006., 2008. Rumunjska. Slovenija je 2009. godine ušla u obitelj MNC NE. U siječnju 2012. Hrvatska je službeno postala dvanaesta nacija Korpusa. U srpnju 2013. Mađarska i 2014. Švedska, koja nije članica NATO-a, poslale su svog predstavnika u Baltičku vojarnu. Godine 2015. turski, britanski, francuski i nizozemski časnici započeli su svoju dužnost u Szczecinu. Kanada, Island, Belgija, Norveška i Grčka pridružile su se Korpusu 2016. godine.

      Since 2004, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania become members. In 2005, Slovakia,  the Czech Republic - in 2005. The US in 2006, in 2008, Romania. In 2009, Slovenia entered the MNC NE family. In January 2012, Croatia officially became the twelfth nation of the Corps. In July 2013, Hungary and in 2014 Sweden, a non-NATO member, sent its representative to the Baltic Barracks. In 2015 Turkish, British, French and Dutch officers started their tours of duty in Szczecin. Canada, Iceland, Belgium, Norway and Greece joined the Corps in 2016.

NATO EXERCISE STEADFAST JAZZ 2013   NATO VJEŽBA "POSTOJANI JAZZ" 2013

      The leading country in the Regional Command West is Italy, which forces are based on members of the MLF's multinational brigade that consists of Italian, Slovenian and Hungarian units, again led by Italians, with units from other countries. For example, the Spaniards are leaders in the provincial Qala-E-Now reconstruction team, the Lithuanians in Changhcharan and the Italians in Herat. Along with all of them, there are also members of the armed forces of other countries (41).