Lithuanian Special Operations Forces

The structure of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces is flexible which makes it easy to form squadrons intended for specific operations and missions from its elements. It consists of:

• 28x28px Special Operations Forces (SOP - Specialiųjų Operacijų Pajėgos) in Vilnius
• 28x28px Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion (VDJB - Vytauto Didžiojo jėgerių batalionas) in Kaunas. Main tasks: special reconnaissance, direct action, unconventional warfare.
• 28x28px Special Mission Unit (YPT - Ypatingosios paskirties tarnyba) in Vilnius. Main tasks: counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, special operations on land, water and air.
• 28x28px Combat Divers Service (KNT - Kovinių narų tarnyba) in Klaipėda. Main tasks: special operations in water, special reconnaissance, direct action.
• 27x27px Training and Combat Support Center (MKPC - Mokymo ir kovinės paramos centras) in Vilnius.

Soon after Lithuania re-established its independence 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 ("Supreme Council Security Section").{{cite web | title = SOJ "Aitvaras" istorija ir dabartis | url = http://soj.lt/istorija_dabartis/ | access-date = 2009-04-16 | language = lt | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090425192041/http://soj.lt/istorija_dabartis/ | archive-date = 2009-04-25 | url-status = dead }} 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 Forces.{{cite news | title=Vytauto Didžiojo jėgerių batalionas (VDJB) | publisher=Krašto apsaugos ministerija | url =http://www.kam.lt/index.php/lt/124855/ | access-date = 2009-04-16 | language = lt }}

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 Mission Unit became counter-terrorism, terrorist liquidation and hostage rescue.{{cite web | title=Ypatingosios paskirties tarnyba (YPT) | publisher=Krašto apsaugos ministerija | url =http://www.kam.lt/index.php/lt/124852/ | access-date = 2009-04-16 | language = lt }} Members of the Special Mission Unit are called Žaliukai, meaning green-men and were named after the Forest Brothers.

After a 2007 reorganization, the Combat Divers Unit was established, whose main task became special underwater and surface operations.

Among the most secretive Lithuanian Special Operations Forces units are squadrons referred to by the codename Aitvaras (named after a traditional Lithuanian mythological spirit). The first public acknowledgment of the existence of Specialiųjų Operacijų Junginys (SOJ) "Aitvaras" (Special Operations Unit "Cockatrice") was in 2000, when Lithuanian sailors were captured in Guinea. Aitvaras carries out classified missions.

The Lithuanian Special Operations Forces 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. Preparedness and execution of tasks by the SOF squadrons have been especially noted by the coalition partners.{{cite web|url=http://www.kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2004/news_archive_2004_-_12/lithuanian_special_force_troops_returned_home_upon_completing_mission_in_afghanistan.html?pbck=0|title=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania :: News » News archives » News archive 2004 » News archive (2004 - 12)|access-date=24 December 2014}}

From 2005 to 2006, the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2009/news_archive_2009_-_03/special_operations_squadron_rdquoaitvarasrdquo_carry_on_with_the_mission_in_south_afghanistan.html?pbck=20|title=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania :: News » News archives » News archive 2009 » News archive (2009 - 03)|access-date=24 December 2014}} In 2008 soldiers of the SOF continued their service in the NATO Response Force.

In 2017, Lithuanian government has made a decision to send 20 soldiers group to the mission in Medditeranian EU Navfor Med including soldiers from navy forces, land forces and special operations forces.

File:KNTV111.jpg|KNT Combat Divers

File:Ypt222.jpg|YPT HALO

File:Lithuanian SOF operators with commander of USSOCOM Gen. Raymond A. Thomas.jpg|YPT troops meet with the US SOCOM

File:Lithuanian SOF squadron in Afghanistan.jpg|SOF in Afghanistan

File:SMULTU.jpg|YPT with Norwegian MJK

File:YPT.jpg|YPT Soldiers

File:VDJB.jpg|VDJB Snipers

File:Knt2222.jpg|KNT Combat Diver

File:YPT and ARAS exercise 2024 01.jpg|YPT soldiers in 2024

• Military of Lithuania

;Specific

{{Reflist}}

;General

• [http://www.kam.lt/index.php/en/ Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site]

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160808201156/http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/structure_1469/special_forces.html Lithuanian Special Operations Forces official site]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykAqYtIHLio Video presentation of Lithuanian Special Operations Force]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKnKyasm4Cg&NR=1 Video presentation of Vytautas the Great Jaeger Battalion]

{{Lithuanian Armed Forces units (1990–now)|state=collapsed}}

{{Lithuania topics}}

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Category:2002 establishments in Lithuania

Category:Military units and formations established in 2002