FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - The Lithuanian Armed Forces liaison officer to the Pennsylvania National Guard met with Pennsylvania Air National Guard engineers and senior leaders Aug. 24 at Fort Indiantown Gap.
Maj. Mantas Kazakevičius, Lithuanian Land Forces Headquarters operations officer, attended the engineer capability exchange meeting with Col. Susan Garrett, 193rd Regional Support Group commander, and the commanders and leaders of the 201st RED HORSE Squadron; the 201st RED HORSE, Detachment 1 (from the 111th Attack Wing); the 193rd Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron; 271st Combat Communication Squadron; and the 193rd Special Operations Wing chief of wing plans.
Kazakevičius is a former Lithuanian Land Forces Engineer Battalion member and serves as the Lithuanian liaison at Fort Indiantown Gap in support of the State Partnership Program. The Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania have partnered through the SPP since 1993.
During the meeting, Kazakevičius shared the engineer battalion’s history, mission, capabilities and exercises.
The 201st RED HORSE Squadron’s representatives discussed their unit’s capabilities and how the unit has supported the State Partnership Program. The other units expressed their interest in supporting the program and partner nation Lithuania.
After the meeting, Kazakevičius visited the Air National Guard Schoolhouse at Fort Indiantown Gap. Master Sgt. Jesse Mitchell, senior instructor, briefed him about the Regional Equipment Operator Training Site.
In the 29 years since the partnership between the Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania began, the two sides have participated in more than 730 engagements, including senior leader engagements, subject matter expert exchanges, familiarization visits and cooperative training and exercises.