FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers from the Lithuanian Armed Forces recently trained Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers on the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor/Anti-Personnel Weapon System.
Lithuanian soldiers from the Griffin Brigade’s Anti-Tank Company conducted MAAWS training with Soldiers from Alpha and Charlie companies, 1-110th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, March 14-17.
The M3 MAAWS is a man-portable recoilless rifle that allows dismounted soldiers to engage different targets, including vehicles, people and structures.
The Pennsylvania National Guard fielded the weapon in 2023. The Lithuanian soldiers came to train the Pennsylvania Guard members because they have a lot of experience with it, said Capt. Daniel Kysela, training officer for the 1-110th Infantry.
“Since we only recently fielded the MAAWS, the addition of the Griffin Brigade’s soldiers to our training was a huge force multiplier,” Kysela said. “They’ve been using these for years, and our Soldiers were quickly able to absorb years of TTPs through their interactions this weekend.”
The training included classroom instruction, crew drills and a field maintenance class.
In addition to the MNAAWS training, the Lithuanians’ visit also helped strengthen the partnership Lithuania and the Pennsylvania National Guard have through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, Kysela said.
“Events like this show the true strength of the partnership between the Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania, as we can help each other by sharing our expertise,” Kysela said. “As our Soldiers look to begin carrying these weapon systems for our situational training exercises and firing them during our live-fires, they’ll rely on the foundation that our friends in the Anti-Tank Company helped build.”
The Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania have partnered through the State Partnership Program since 1993. They have had over 800 security cooperation engagements, including senior leader engagements, subject matter expert exchanges, familiarization visits and cooperative training and exercises.
The Department of Defense National Guard Bureau SPP program now includes more than 100 nations.