Lithuanian Land Forces Separate Battalions

King Mindaugas
Motorised Infantry Battalion (MMIB)

King Mindaugas Motorised Infantry Battalion deployed in Panevežys district, Pajuostis village is one of subdivisions of the Land Forces. Today King Mindaugas battalion is supported with modern weaponry, equipment, techniques and modern communications equipment. A total of 300 personnel serve in King Mindaugas battalion, among this number 285 persons are professional military servicemen. Many of them have gained much experience not only during multinational exercise but during international operations as well. Battalion soldiers participate in military exercise and other military cooperation projects in Lithuania and abroad. Troops are ready to provide assistance to civil authorities during disasters, to respond to terrorists attacks and to other threats of a non-military nature.

King Mindaugas battalion has signed cooperation agreements with Panevežys municipality, Lithuanian Riflemen Union, Panevežys district Supreme police department and its units, Panevežys district Firefighter department, Panevežys district high schools and gymnasiums. Battalion soldiers represent military by visiting school and participating in events. Beside this schoolchildren excursions are organized every month to the battalion; on the military and society unity day (the 3rd Sunday in May) battalion organizes Open Day. Battalion servicemen have good conditions for the leisure activities - there are officers' and sergeants' clubs in the battalion, large and steadily renewed library, sports and wrestling halls, a stadium, basketball and volleyball grounds.

Grand Duchess Birute
Motorised Infantry Battalion (BMIB)

Lithuanian Great Duchess Birute Motorised Infantry Battalion deployed in Alytus is a division of the Motorised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf". Soldiers in the Battalion undergo combat training according to the catalogue of tasks for the central goal (In Lith. EUUS). It is a set of collective tasks a military unit has to fulfil to successfully attain the central combat objective. It is the core of combat training planned, arranged and analysed by the division or subdivision commander.

It is a set of individual tasks (In Lith. IUS) for soldiers in private, sergeant, and NCO ranks compiled according to the tasks the soldiers are expected to fulfil in the battle field. IUS tasks serve as basis of individual training. Individual training is accomplished on a continuous basis and is simultaneously integrated into collective training. Readiness levels for EUUS and peacetime tasks of the Battalion to be reached are set with regard to limitations of combat training.

Pride of the Battalion are the barracks sheltering strong soldierly spirit of our ancestors for more than a hundred years. The unit is equipped with wheeled materiel of various lifting capacity (trucks, armoured vehicles M 113 A1 and all-terrain vehicles), light infantry weaponry (pistols, automatic rifles, light machine-guns, antitank grenade launchers) and 60 mm and 120 mm mortars. Members of the Grand Duchess Birute Battalion bestowed with the honour to continue traditions of the pre-war 2nd Uhlan Regiment perform duty in international operations in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, headquarters of NATO commands, and develop intensive cooperation with society.

Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis
Dragoon Motorised Infantry Battalion (BDMIB)

On 19 June, 1992 by the Chief of the Field Army Brigade Lt. Col. Ceslovas Jezerskas order No 146, captain Rimantas Baltu�is, Brigade Combat and landing training department, was commissioned to form a separate Motor-borne Battalion. By the order of the Minister of National Defence Audrius Butkevicius of 14 July, 1992, Nemirseta garrison town with all its equipment was to be transferred to Field Army Brigade. Nemirseta garrison town is situated West to the former road Klaipeda-Palanga. In this garrison town Field Army Klaipeda Motor-borne Battalion was located.

On 20 August, 1993 the Battalion was redeployed to Klaipeda. The territory with the premises undertaken from the Russian Federation was transferred to Klaipeda Motor-borne Battalion. In October 1993 the Field Army Brigade "Iron Wolf" Klaipeda Motor-borne Battalion was re-named to Klaipeda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion. The word 'dragoon' ('dragos' in French, 'draco' in Latin) means 'a dragon'. Horse-mounted infantrymen held this name in the 16th to 18th centuries.

While improving the management structure since 1 April, 1995 Motorised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" Klaipeda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion was transferred under the subordination of Klaipeda Navy Forces. The Battalion was named to Klaipeda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion". According to the new organizational structure, composition and tasks the Battalion soldiers were attributed to Maritime Infantry and execute Coast Guard and Attack Operations.

On 27 October, 1999 a new Motorized Infantry Brigade was formed, which on 22 February, 2000 was named "Žemaitija". Since 1 December, 1999 Navy Forces Klaipeda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion was transferred under the direct subordination of Motorized Infantry Brigade "Žemaitija" West and on 22 February, 2000 the Battalion was given the name of Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Training Battalion. During the reform process on 1 September, 2004, the Battalion was transferred under the direct subordination of the Chief of the Volunteer Service of National Defence. On 1 December, 2004 it was re-organized into a Training Battalion; its former activities were changed and the staffs of National Defence Volunteer Service centers were transferred under the subordination of the Battalion.

The Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Training Battalion was re-organized and re-named many times and its place in the Lithuanian Armed Forces has changed too. Dragoon Training Battalion which had lived through harder and easier periods, today is successfully executing military preparation and training tasks in the structure of the National Defence Volunteer Service.

Juozas Vitkus
Engineer Battalion (JVEB)

The Engineer Battalion was established on 15 August. On 31 December 1999, the Engineer Battalion (previously called Separate Engineer Battalion) was given the name of Juozas Vitkus-Kazimieraitis and till the present day is known as Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion. The aim of the Engineer Battalion is to increase the efficiency of combat and support units of Lithuanian Armed Forces by conducting tasks related to mobility, counter mobility, survival, and general engineering support. Battalion is comprised of the headquarters and five companies, i.e. 1st, 2nd Engineer, General Engineering, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Staff Support. In order to ensure safe and proper disposal of explosives as well as elimination of unexploded ammunition from Lithuania, EOD company units are located in a different territory of Lithuania, e.g. Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevežys, Alytus, Klaipeda, and Taurage.

All equipment and weapons used in the Battalion are the same as used in Land force units. However, several pieces of equipment are specific and require special operating knowledge. The Engineer Battalion is the only one that operates Pontoon bridge system in the Baltic States.

The Battalion is involved in active cultural life. Red-letter days of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Armed Forces are celebrated. Members of the Battalion attend lectures related to the spiritual and civic education, political science, excursions, cultural tours in Lithuania, as well as participate in sports events. Troops of the Battalion not only maintain close relations with the citizens of Kaunas, but also take part in various events. The citizens of Kaunas willingly attend organized festivals and events that take place in the Battalion.