November 9-12 Vilnius city municipalities will take place in the territory (Antakalnis and Naujosjos Vilnias wards). Lithuanian army National Defense Volunteer Forces international exercise "Strong Shield 2018".
During the training, the abilities of the soldiers of the 8th national team of the KASP Great Combat District to carry out defense operations in their area of responsibility, in interaction with other units of the Lithuanian army and allies, will be trained and evaluated.
About 800 soldiers will train in the exercise at the same time.
According to the concept of the "Strong Shield" exercise, the KASP team is assigned the task of disrupting the enemy forces operating in the area of responsibility. Using small-unit tactics, squads soldiers will patrol, collect intelligence information, as well as carry out ambushes against objects occupied by the occupying forces, supply, combat support units, military equipment columns, command posts and other important targets.
Military exercises will take place both during daylight hours and after dark in non-military areas agreed in advance with local authorities and landowners.
Soldiers will move on foot or in wheeled military vehicles, use special equipment, simulated ammunition, explosive devices, smoke packets and flares.
The "Strong Shield" assessment exercise organized by the KASP headquarters takes place twice a year. A different KASP national team is trained and evaluated every time. The exercise consists of two stages - training of the commanders of the collective headquarters and company management groups, and field tactical exercises taking place in the area of collective responsibility. The exercises of the headquarters of the 8th national team of the Great Kova District were held in April this year.
The National Defense Volunteer Forces train volunteer soldiers for the armed defense of the land territory of the Republic of Lithuania. About 4900 military volunteers serve in the force - conscripts voluntarily committed under the military volunteer contract, performing non-permanent military service.
Combat training exercises for volunteer soldiers take place about 30 days a year, mostly on weekends, so volunteers combine service in the army and civilian activities - work or studies.
