From Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan:  Lithuania joins the Czech Republic, Hungary and the United Kingdom as advisors to NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF) at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul. 

Lithuania will 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,” said Capt. Thomas Filbert, U.S. Air Force, 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron.

A delegation from Lithuania arrived at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul on Aug. 26th to gather information and gather critical information to help them succeed once they arrive. The Lithuanian team toured the maintenance complex, received a mission brief and an overview of the CAPTF mission. They conducted interviews to gain a mission perspective.

The Lithuanians will partner with a team from the Ukraine to bolster their own personnel and develop a complete, self-supporting advisor team with capabilities ranging from logistics to operations.  (photo: NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan)

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