FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Infantrymen from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division are training with Lithuanian infantry soldiers June 8-18, 2014, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.
The training is being conducted as part of the partnership between Pennsylvania and Lithuania that began in 1993 with the creation of the National Guard's State Partnership Program.
The soldiers conducted a variety of training including basic and advanced rifle marksmanship, gunnery, squad- and platoon-level movement, civil affairs, and land navigation.
Though each country has their own way of doing things, all of the concepts are integrated into training in both nations and all soldiers involves were familiar with the concepts.
Sgt. Brandon Lutz of Company B, 1-111th Infantry Battalion, 56th Stryker Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, said training with the Lithuanian troops was not much of a departure from the norm. He said the language barrier was minimal as most of the Lithuanian troops spoke some English. The learning curve was also typical he said.
"Infantry is infantry; we all know this stuff." Lutz said. "You could compare it to training with Iraqis, for those of us who experienced that." The languages are different, but the infantry tactics, techniques, procedures and attitude are the same, he said.
The soldiers also planned to incorporate team- and bond-building activities into the visit including a day dedicated to morale, welfare and recreation activities.
While this training was taking place, another group of Pennsylvania National Guard troops were overseas training in Lithuania and Latvia as part of the annual multinational exercise called Saber Strike.
Pennsylvania and Lithuania have also deployed to Afghanistan cooperatively, several times as joint Police Operational Mentor Liaison Teams, and also as Provincial Reconstruction Teams led by Lithuania with logistical support from Pennsylvania.