Lithuanian Platoon Impacts Wasit
Master Sgt. Mindaugas Vysniauskas, from the Lithuanian Iron Wolf platoon, pulls security during the medical evacuation portion of a certification exercise. The Iron Wolf platoon provides a personal security detachment and quick reaction force for coalition forces at Forward Operating Base Delta.
DVIDS
By Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles
214th Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office
With slightly less than two months at Forward Operating Base Delta, Lithuanian soldiers are already making an impact on operations in Wasit province.
The Iron Wolf platoon provides a personal security detachment and quick reaction force in support of battlefield circulation for 214th Fires Brigade staff and other coalition forces, said Maj. James Singer, the 214th FB operations officer.
“They provide the command group and staff a great amount of mobility that we didn’t have before,” he said.
The addition of the Lithuanian platoon allows the 511th Military Police Company, from Fort Drum, N.Y., to focus on their police transition team mission and provides security for coalition forces to conduct more civilian military cooperation missions, said Singer.
“They are absolutely vital in providing security in support of those operations,” Singer said.
Before assuming their mission, the Lithuanian platoon received drivers’ training, medical evacuation training and conducted a certification exercise.
During the certification exercise, led by 511th MP Co. personnel, the Lithuanian soldiers navigated scenarios such as reacting to improvised explosive devices, reacting to a sniper, personnel recovery, vehicle recovery and reacting to an ambush.
“They did extremely well,” said Sgt. 1st Class David Riggons, a platoon sergeant with the 511th MP Co. “They are a very competent and professional organization.”
First Lt. Gediminas Ališauskas, platoon commander for the Lithuanian contingent’s 10th rotation, said his soldiers started with a few mistakes, but learned and improved.
“It was important to see my soldiers think at a level higher than they were responsible for,” Ališauskas said. “It was one of the best moments for our unit and the best training we have received.”
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