On January 17, the National Defense Volunteer Force (KASP) will celebrate the 27th anniversary of its establishment - the force was officially established after the Soviet Union's attempt to overthrow the legitimate government of Lithuania by armed force in 1991.
12 o'clock a ceremonial line-up will take place in Independence Square near the Seimas Palace. The volunteers will be welcomed by the Speaker of the Seimas Viktoras Pranckietis, the Speaker of the Supreme Council-Restorative Seimas Vytautas Landsbergis, and the Minister of National Defense Raimundas Karoblis.
During the ceremonial line-up, the 57th edition of the Basic Soldier Volunteer Skills Course will be sworn in to the Republic of Lithuania soldiers volunteers, the 810th (Vilnius) light infantry company will also be officially restored. During the line-up, the new commander of the 8th squad of the KASP Great Combat District will be presented with a combat flag and, traditionally, the best volunteer company of 2017 will be awarded with a historical sword, as well as the creators of the army, volunteer soldiers and their employers will be honored.
"This year, the highlight of the celebration of the anniversary of the establishment of the National Defense Volunteer Forces will be the solemn swearing-in ceremony of volunteer soldiers, which is included in today's events for the first time. I invite everyone to come and celebrate together the determination of military volunteers to serve the good of our country", says KASP commander Colonel Arturas Jasinskas.
On this day, KASP volunteer soldiers will commemorate this day throughout Lithuania by wearing military uniforms while off duty. Volunteers normally wear military uniforms for training, usually on weekends, but on January 17th they will look military to work, lectures, leisure activities and more.
14.15:XNUMX p.m. In the Vilnius crew officers' hall, the commanders of the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Volunteer Forces will sign the annual cooperation plan of the volunteer forces, which foresees the joint participation of soldiers in combat training, activities and sports events.
The event program
10 h - St. Mass of St. Ignoto's Church (Sv. Ignoto St. 6);
12 h – ceremonial line-up in Independence Square near the Seimas Palace;
14.15 h - in 2017 The signing ceremony of the Cooperation Plan of the Baltic Voluntary Forces (Vilnius Crew Officers Branch, Pamėnkalnio St. 13, Vilnius, 2nd a.);
14.30 h - Celebration of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of KASP (Vilnius crew officers' branch).
On January 1991, 17, after the Soviet Union's attempt to overthrow the legitimate government of Lithuania by armed force, the Supreme Council adopted the Law on the establishment of the Voluntary National Defense Service (SKAT). Based on this law, the Voluntary National Defense Service (SKAT, reorganized into KASP in 1998) officially began to operate. The law legitimized and legally legalized the already functioning volunteer formations, created prerequisites for appointing management and forming units. After the establishment of the Voluntary National Defense Service, one essential task was solved - the public, which already defended the state based on the law, was officially included in the defense of the state.
Currently, the National Defense Volunteer Force (KASP) is training volunteer soldiers for the armed defense of the land territory of the Republic of Lithuania. About 4 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 900 days a year, mostly on weekends, so volunteers combine service in the army and civilian activities - work or studies. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania between the ages of 30 and 18 can become volunteer soldiers.
In 2016-2017, while strengthening the country's defense capabilities, seven companies were restored: in Šalčininkai, Biržai, Kalvarija, Klaipėda, Raseiniai, Naujoja Akmene and Kaišiadori.
