Lithuanian chief of defence General Lieutenant A. Pocius visits Lithuanian soldiers in Afghanistan

Photo By David Overson | Lithuanian Army Lt. Col. Viktoras Bagdonas, chief of staff for the Lithuanian Army "Griffin" Brigade, stands outside of the Lithuanian Tactical Operation Center during Allied Spirit VII, which took place at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Nov. 18, 2017. Approximately 4,050 service members from 13 nations are participating in exercise Allied Spirit VII at 7th Army Training Command’s Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Oct. 30 to Nov. 22, 2017. Allied Spirit is a U.S. Army Europe-directed, 7ATC-conducted multinational exercise series designed to develop and enhance NATO and key partner’s interoperability and readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David Overson)  

GHOR, AFGHANISTAN

03.25.2012

Courtesy Story

ISAF Regional Command West

OF-1 Tomas Pakalniskis
Public Information Officer Lithuanian army
Regional Command-West Public Affairs

GHOR, Afghanistan - On March 22, Lithuanian army commander Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius, visited Afghanistan's Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-14) Lithuanian soldiers in Chaghcharan.

Welcoming soldiers, LtG. A. Pocius said: "When I first came here to Chaghcharan there was practically nothing - sand, dust, almost Moon land. But today I see many positive changes. This is your merit, but not all done yet, we need to continue and complete our work. "Army commander thanked troops for their service.

West Regional Commander, Brig. Gen. Luciano Portolano and his delegation from the International Security Assistance Force Regional Command West, which Lithuania PRT is subordinate to, also participated in this visit. Luciano Portolano is leaving service in Afghanistan and came to say goodbye to the Lithuanian soldiers.

Later on, PRT-14 commander with Lithuanian delegation, Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture Kazys Starkevičius and Parliamentary Health Committee Chairman Antanas Matulas, visited Afghan national disaster management agency and discussed the situation in Ghor province, possible assistance to local government, also met with Rural Development and Agriculture department representatives. After that Lithuanian delegation visited the Chaghcharan hospital, which is under reconstruction and financed by Japan and Lithuania, and met with the chief physician, Dr. Juma Yaqubi Ghul.

Afghanistan celebrates this week the New Year, Navruz, also a new school year begins, so the delegation was invited to the new school year celebration in Chaghcharan girls' school.

Currently, PRT-14 which is formed on the basis of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces 5th territorial unit Vytis Military District is deployed in Afghanistan Ghor province.

Lithuanian-led Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team is a joint civilian-military mission, part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, which started functioning in Ghor province in summer 2005. The PRT's task is to support the central government in expanding its authority throughout the province, providing security and stability and establishing proper conditions for the reconstruction of the province. The PRT composition also includes military and civilian personnel from Georgia, Japan, the USA, Poland, Finland, Bulgaria and Ukraine.

• Date Taken: 03.25.2012
• Date Posted: 03.26.2012 02:10
• Story ID: 85774
• Location: GHOR, AF