U.S. Army troops assigned to 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division recently conducted force-on-force training with the Lithuanian military in order to prepare both forces for combat. Lithuania, one of the 'Balts alongside Latvia and Estonia, are at the front lines of deterring Russian aggression and expansionism.
"It’s not about fighting each other, it’s about fighting together with a purpose," Lithuanian Col. Aurelijus Alasauskas said in a press release about the training exercises, called Strong Griffin 2023.
Force on force training involves friendly military units that are pitted against one another in a training scenario firing blanks and other simulated munitions against one another. Going up against actual human soldiers in training effectively teaches military units where their weaknesses are in a way that shooting paper targets or even a virtual reality simulator can't.
"With the U.S. providing offensive capabilities, and Lithuania providing defense capabilities — when you combine those two into one — you have a very mobile, aggressive defense, which is not letting the forces penetrate you or to maneuver in front of you. So you’re leading even in the defense position. This is the main purpose: To lead the battle the way you want to," Alasaukas elaborated.
During Strong Griffin 2023, American soldier played the aggressor force moving through the forests and into an urban environment to assault a village that the Lithuanian troops were defending.
"It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience working with the Lithuanians," explained U.S. Lt. Col. David W. Griffith. "They’ve been a great partner here in Pabrade."
