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Lithuanians Prepare to Establish Advisory Team

  • Published
  • By MC2 David Quillen
  • 438th AEW PA
KABUL, Afghanistan --  The Combined Air Power Transition Force has incorporated another NATO partner into the development of the Afghan Air Force. CAPTF already utilizes experts from varying countries such as the Czech Republic, United Kingdom, and Hungary. Now Lithuania has agreed to supply personnel for a two-year commitment beginning in 2011. The new Lithuanian team is set to arrive as early as January and begin their advisory role.

"This is a significant obligation and contribution by the Lithuanians because they only have one helicopter unit to pull from to support CAPTF" commented Capt. Thomas Filbert, U.S. Air Force, 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, CAPTF.

A delegation from Lithuania arrived at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Aug. 26th to begin gathering information and talking to current CAPTF advisors in order to gather critical information that will help them succeed and upon arrival in Kandahar immediately begin operations. The Lithuanian team toured the maintenance complex, received a mission brief and overall big picture of CAPTF, and conducted a variety of interviews with various advisors with the hopes of gaining a broader perspective on the mission based on their experience.

The next stop for the Lithuanian team will be to head down to Kandahar for a two or three day visit for an on ground survey of their future home.

The Lithuanians are fully committed to their role and plan to partner with a team from the Ukraine in order to bolster their own personnel and develop a complete, self supporting mentor team with full capabilities ranging from logistics to operations.