The Context of COVID19: What We Need to Know? 1
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MARCH 2020. NO 3 (22). NEWS LITHUANIAN SOLDIERS DECORATED AFTER SERVICE IN IRAQ RENOVATED GYM NAMED AFTER A U.S. GENERAL BORN IN LITHUANIA The context of COVID19: what we need to know? 1. Contribution of the Lithuanian the territory of Lithuania, and in controlling SPECIAL Armed Forces to COVID19 situation closed off strips of the border; management: ■ The Spartan transport aircraft of the As updated on March 20 at 0900hrs, cur- Lithuanian Air Force was used to bring citi- THE LIBERATION OF KLAIPĖDA rently approx. 126 soldiers of the National zens of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as Defence Volunteer Force (NDVF) assigned a shipment for the Transplant Centre (stem to the Domestic Support Forces are on duty cells), back from Germany on March 16; at one time by the internal Lithuania-Latvia ■ The Spartan transport aircraft of the and Lithuania-Poland European Union bor- Lithuanian Air Force was used to bring a ship- ders and at seaports and airports of Lithuania. ment for the Transplant Centre (stem cells) Lithuanian military personnel are assist- from Germany to Lithuania on March 18; ing civilian authorities: The Lithuanian Armed Forces also com- ■ At Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga airports mitted and set up 4 articles of military tents and Klaipėda Seaport since March 3: at Kaunas and Vilnius airports for incoming • 72 soldiers of the National Defence Vol- passenger registration and check-up. HEADHUNTERS FROM TEXAS unteer Force have been managing passenger In total, over 100 NDVF soldiers activated flow, registering travellers returning to Lithua- as the Lithuanian Domestic Support Forces nia and providing them information side by are currently assisting civilian authorities in side with colleagues from the National Public providing response to the coronavirus out- Health Centre; break. At Lithuania-Latvia and Lithuania-Poland 2. Changes in Lithuanian Armed Forces border-crossing points since March 16: activities made because of COVID19 • 54 soldiers of the National Defence Vo- The Lithuanian Armed Forces introduced lunteer Force have been assisting State Bor- the following COVID19 spread mitigation der Guard Service colleagues in providing in- measures as part of the quarantine: formation to and registering people entering See page 2 News The context of COVID19: Content NEWS what we need to know? THE CONTEXT OF COVID19: From page 1 a. Limitations have been put on military training activities and exerci- WHAT WE NEED ses. International exercises and exercises scheduled to be located in non- TO KNOW?.....................................................................................1,2,3 military areas have been cancelled. Military personnel is allowed to train in groups not larger than 30 persons and have to respect social distancing recommendations. Exercises are only allowed to take place in military- CHIEFS OF DEFENCE MEETING use areas in open air. IN RUKLA.................................................................................................4 b. Movement of military personnel and vehicles between units has been limited except for essential communication. c. The weekend leave for conscripts of the Continuous Mandatory LITHUANIAN SOLDIERS DECORATED Initial Military Service (CMIMS) has been temporarily suspended. The AFTER SERVICE IN IRAQ.................................................................5 preventive measure has been applied in order to ensure safety of the con- scripts and their family members they would visit while ensuring the op- portunities to stay in touch via technology. RENOVATED GYM NAMED d. A part of the career soldiers will undergo health assessment and have to stay with the conscripts, will carry out service on barracks regi- AFTER A U.S. GENERAL BORN IN men and will not be allowed to visit home. The measure has been applied LITHUANIA............................................................................................6 to minimise outside contacts. e. Additional combat training exercises combined with rest time have been planned for soldiers during the weekends. GERMANY MOVES TO PROTECT ITS f. All career soldiers are obliged to self-isolate, not to report to their MILITARY-CYBER INDUSTRY.......................................................7 units physically for two weeks after returning from service trips abroad. g. Further military service trips abroad have been cancelled and are not scheduled. POLAND IS BECOMING AMERICA'S KEY Medical personnel and commanders have issued instructions in all NATO ALLY..........................................................................................8,9 units concerning additional counter-COVID19 hygiene: quarters are aired and cleaned more frequently, soldiers are washing their hands more IN SHORT often, hand sanitiser is available across quarters. Important note: the quarantine does not alter the main mission of MARCH 11 — THE RESTORATION OF the Armed Forces — preparedness for armed state defence, therefore with additional safety measures in place, the Armed Forces has to remain INDEPENDENCE DAY..............................................................10,11 ready to ensure that military personnel will fulfil their duty in national defence and in assisting other authorities fighting the spread of the coro- SPECIAL navirus. 3. CMIMS conscripts are temporarily not granted weekend THE LIBERATION OF leaves because: KLAIPĖDA.............................................................................................12 a. It is a preventive measure to minimize the risk for conscripts and their family members to become infected with the coronavirus. Equiva- lent measures were applied in the past to address the seasonal flu epide- HEADHUNTERS FROM mic announced by municipalities in their areas of responsibility. TEXAS.....................................................................................................20 b. An emergency, or a quarantine, does not nullify tasks of the Armed Forces — military personnel continues the service the same way public order officers or firefighters do. Military training must continue not only to ensure implementation of the main task of the Armed Forces, armed state defence, but also for the Armed Forces to remain able to assist other state authorities fighting the spread of the coronavirus. Military Press Office of Lithuanian Armed Forces Totorių str. 25, LT-01121, Vilnius; c. Barracks regimen for conscripts is a common practice during a Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 86 94458; fax (370 5) 273 5550; quarantine period. It is imposed to protect conscripts' health. Medical Email [email protected] support elements are in operation across all divisions and military medics Publisher — Lithuanian Armed Forces. The opinion of editorial office does not necessarily coin- are ready to provide health services. CMIMS conscripts receive primary cide with the opinion of the authors. Pictures, manuscripts are not returned and reviewed. Cir- culation is 300 copies. Printed by the Cartography Center of Lithuanian Military, Muitinės str.4, outpatient healthcare services, first medical aid, etc. Conscripts are train- Domeikava, LT-54359 Kaunas dist. Order GL-163. ing in routine military training exercises, attend civil education, leisure, sports, and other activities in unit territories during the weekends. It is a common practice in other NATO militaries as well. See page 3 2 Lithuanian Military Digest News The context of COVID19: what we need to know? From page 2 the soldier had been would be disinfected and place, the Armed Forces has to remain ready to 4. Will the CMIMS conscription and those who had come into contact with him ensure that military personnel will fulfil their transportation to units be halted. would be isolated and observed for 14 days. duty in national defence and in assisting other a. Health check-ups conducted before join- Catering for such soldiers would be arranged authorities fighting the spread of the coronavirus. ing the professional military service or CMIMS separately from the rest. 13. Is there a medical facility in military has been halted for the period March 17-April b. the ill soldier would be handed over for territories? 3. The medical personnel has been reassigned further care to civilian healthcare institutions. a. There are medical support units and mili- to conduct other tasks. 8. Can family members visit conscripts in tary medics are ready to provide health services b. Health examination notices issues for their units. in every division of the Lithuanian Armed For- CMIMC conscripts will be postponed until la- a. Family members are not allowed to visit ces. CMIMS conscripts receive primary outpa- ter date or cancelled. Each conscript will be con- soldiers at military units during quarantine on tient healthcare services, first medical aid, etc. tacted individually to agree a new check-up date. the basis of the Chief of Defence's action plan 14. Are there COVID19 positive soldiers c. CMIMS conscripts who have already re- restricting access by unauthorised persons to in the Lithuanian Armed Forces? ceived instruction to provide their documents or military units. a. No soldier has been diagnosed with contact have to contact via telephone or e-mail 9. Is delivery of parcels to conscripts al- COVID19 in the Lithuanian Armed Forces and to send their documents (e.g., education lowed. to date. certificates or requests to postpone CMIMC) a. Yes, it is allowed. However, keeping food 15. Have the education activities been by remote means (registered mail or e-mail). All in the