Lithuanian Special Operations Force
Encyclopedia
The Lithuanian Special Operations Force (LITHSOF) is a special operation unit of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, formed exclusively of carefully selected, motivated and specially trained professionals. The main tasks of the Special Operations Force are counter terrorism, special reconnaissance
, and hostage rescue.
The Lithuanian Special Operations Force has been in operation de facto since 2002 and it was established de jure on April 3, 2008, when amendments of the National Defence System organisation and military service law came into force. SOF is formed from the Special Operations Unit.
The structure of the Lithuanian Special Operations Force (SOF) is flexible which makes it easy to form squadrons intended for concrete operations and missions from its elements. The core of the Lithuanian SOF is:
One of the main missions of the Lithuanian Special Operations Force is counter-terrorism
operations beyond the territory of Lithuania
. The SOF also carries out other special missions: direct action
, special reconnaissance
, rescue of hostages and protection of VIPs. The SOF can be called upon inside the territory of Lithuania when law enforcement agencies lack necessary capabilities to react to terrorist attacks.
from the Soviet Union
on March 11, 1990, the need arose to form armed units. One of the first such units was Aukščiausiosios Tarybos Apsaugos Skyrius. One of the main tasks of this unit was to protect the Lithuanian Parliament
. In the following years, the Lithuanian army underwent various restructuring processes. After the reorganization of Kaunas Vytautas the Great motorized infantry battalion in 1995, the separate Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion (named after Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great
) was established, which would become one of the core units of Lithuanian Special Operations Force.
Unofficial formation of the Special Purpose Service was started in 1995; after two more years the Service was officially established. After the 9/11 terror attacks, the main tasks of the Special Purpose Service became counter-terrorism, terrorist liquidation and hostage rescue. Members of the Special Purpose Service are called Žaliūkai, meaning green-men and were named after the Forest Brothers
.
After a 2007 reorganization, the Combat Divers Service (CDS) was established, whose main task became special underwater and surface operations.
Among the most secretive Lithuanian Special Operations Force units are squadrons referred to by the codename Aitvaras (named after traditional Lithuanian mythological
spirit Aitvaras
). The first public acknowledgment of the existence of the Aitvaras squadron was in 2000, when Lithuanian sailors were captured in Guinea
. Aitvaras carries out classified missions.
From 2002 to 2004 squadrons of the Aitvaras were deployed to the "Enduring Freedom" operation in Afghanistan
. Preparedness and execution of tasks by the SOF squadrons have been especially noted by the coalition partners.
From 2005 to 2006, the Lithuanian Special Operations Force was on the operational half-year stand-by period in the NATO Response Force
. Since the autumn 2007, SOF have taken part in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force
mission in southern Afghanistan. In 2008 soldiers of the SOF continued their service in the NATO Response Force.
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organisations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy. As a role, SR is distinct from commando operations,...
, and hostage rescue.
The Lithuanian Special Operations Force has been in operation de facto since 2002 and it was established de jure on April 3, 2008, when amendments of the National Defence System organisation and military service law came into force. SOF is formed from the Special Operations Unit.
Structure and tasks
-
Special Purpose Service (SPS - Ypatingosios paskirties tarnyba); -
Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion (VGJB - Vytauto Didžiojo jėgerių batalionas); - Combat Divers Service (CDS - Kovinių narų tarnyba);
- Special Operations Element (SOE - Specialiųjų operacijų grandis) (subordinate to the Unit at the level of operations managementOperations managementOperations management is an area of management concerned with overseeing, designing, and redesigning business operations in the production of goods and/or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as little resources as needed, and...
).
One of the main missions of the Lithuanian Special Operations Force is counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
operations beyond the territory of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. The SOF also carries out other special missions: direct action
Direct action (military)
In the context of military special operations, direct action consists of: "Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy,...
, special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organisations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy. As a role, SR is distinct from commando operations,...
, rescue of hostages and protection of VIPs. The SOF can be called upon inside the territory of Lithuania when law enforcement agencies lack necessary capabilities to react to terrorist attacks.
Establishment
Soon after Lithuania re-established its independenceAct of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of March 11 was an independence declaration by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on March 11, 1990...
from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
on March 11, 1990, the need arose to form armed units. One of the first such units was Aukščiausiosios Tarybos Apsaugos Skyrius. One of the main tasks of this unit was to protect the Lithuanian Parliament
Seimas
The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation...
. In the following years, the Lithuanian army underwent various restructuring processes. After the reorganization of Kaunas Vytautas the Great motorized infantry battalion in 1995, the separate Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion (named after Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great
Vytautas the Great
Vytautas ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
) was established, which would become one of the core units of Lithuanian Special Operations Force.
Unofficial formation of the Special Purpose Service was started in 1995; after two more years the Service was officially established. After the 9/11 terror attacks, the main tasks of the Special Purpose Service became counter-terrorism, terrorist liquidation and hostage rescue. Members of the Special Purpose Service are called Žaliūkai, meaning green-men and were named after the Forest Brothers
Lithuanian partisans
The Lithuanian partisans can refer to various irregular military units in different historical periods active in Lithuania against foreign invaders and occupiers:...
.
After a 2007 reorganization, the Combat Divers Service (CDS) was established, whose main task became special underwater and surface operations.
Among the most secretive Lithuanian Special Operations Force units are squadrons referred to by the codename Aitvaras (named after traditional Lithuanian mythological
Lithuanian mythology
Lithuanian mythology is an example of Baltic mythology, developed by Lithuanians throughout the centuries.-History of scholarship:Surviving information about Baltic paganism in general is very sketchy and incomplete. As with most ancient Indo-European cultures Lithuanian mythology is an example of...
spirit Aitvaras
Aitvaras
Aitvaras is a household spirit in Lithuanian mythology. Other names are Kaukas, Pūkis, Damavykas, Sparyžius, Koklikas, Gausinėlis, Žaltvikšas, and Spirukas. Aitvaras is identical to the Latvian Pūkis. An Aitvaras looks like a white or black rooster with a fiery tail . An Aitvaras may hatch from an...
). The first public acknowledgment of the existence of the Aitvaras squadron was in 2000, when Lithuanian sailors were captured in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. Aitvaras carries out classified missions.
Operational history
The Lithuanian Special Operations Force units have participated in a number of missions.From 2002 to 2004 squadrons of the Aitvaras were deployed to the "Enduring Freedom" operation in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Preparedness and execution of tasks by the SOF squadrons have been especially noted by the coalition partners.
From 2005 to 2006, the Lithuanian Special Operations Force was on the operational half-year stand-by period in the NATO Response Force
NATO Response Force
The NATO Response Force is a "coherent, high-readiness, joint, multinational force package" of up to 25,000 troops that is "technologically advanced, flexible, deployable, interoperable and sustainable"...
. Since the autumn 2007, SOF have taken part in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
mission in southern Afghanistan. In 2008 soldiers of the SOF continued their service in the NATO Response Force.
External links
- Lithuanian Special Operations Force official site
- Video presentation of Lithuanian Special Operations Force
- Video presentation of Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion