Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf

Function

• Plan and conduct the tasks related to military operations;
• Prepare training and activity plans of MIB "Iron Wolf";
• Organize, conduct, evaluate and analyze training of subunits in order to achieve specify tasks and essential tasks of the mission;
• Control readiness of subunits of MIB "Iron Wolf" to conduct stated missions and essential tasks of the mission;
• Coordinate main spheres of activity with the commander of MIB "Iron Wolf";
• Take part in national and international military operations, exercises and projects of the military cooperation;
• Collect information on experience gathered during exercises and make suggestions to Brigade commander;
• Provide information and reports to the higher headquarters concerning implementation of training and activity plans;
• Provide assistance to state and municipal institutions by responding to threats of a non-military nature;
• Maintain close relationship with local society and participate in their activities.

  Current composition

History

• January 13, 1991 – both the Defence Squad and the Honors Guard Company defend the Lithuania's parliament building, the Hall of Press, the Ministers' Council building, the Vilnius TV tower, and other buildings during the January Events;
• February 22, 1991 – a Training Regiment is created;
• November 14, 1991 – the Training Regiment reorganized as Rapid Reaction Mechanized Infantry Brigade. Brigade's subunits, stationed in various parts of Lithuania, are considered equal to battalions;
• Spring, 1992 – First draftees are assigned to the newly formed Brigade, with battalions stationed Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Tauragė, and two companies are stationed in Alytus and Marijampolė ;
• January 2, 1992 – Renamed as Field Infantry 1^st Mechanized Brigade ;
• June 6, 1992 – Unit's first parade in the Cathedral Square, Vilnius; Brigade is awarded the name "Iron Wolf" ;
• April 1, 1995 – Klaipėda's battalion is reassigned under the Navy command; Kaunas's battalion reassigned under the Army HQ's command;
• January 26, 1996 – Field Infantry Brigade reorganized as "Iron Wolf" Mechanized Infantry Brigade ;
• October 27, 1996 – Brigade's battalions in Šiauliai and Tauragė are reassigned as separate units;
• In 2004 – the bilateral project between Denmark and Lithuania LITBRIG has started;
• August 31, 2006 – in Denmark, Haderslev, a contemporary Chief of Defense of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Valdas Tutkus and Chief of Defense of Denmark Gen. Hans Jasper Helso have signed the Memorandum of MIB "Iron Wolf" affiliation with Danish Division.

  Commanders

• Col. Česlovas Jezerskas
• Col. Jonas Vytautas Žukas
• Col. Vitalijus Vaikšnoras
• Col. Gediminas Jurgutis
• Col. Darius Užkuraitis
• Col. Vilmantas Tamošaitis
• Col. Valdemaras Rupšys
• Col. Raimundas Vaikšnoras
• Col. Mindaugas Steponavičius

  International cooperation

International joint projects

• ARTBALT, a joint project with Denmark to create an artillery battalion in Lithuania
• BALTBAT, a multinational project aimed to create and train a joint infantry battalion between Lithuania's, Latvia's, and Estonia's militaries. The project is executed in cooperation with several Scandinavian nations, Great Britain, and the United States.
• LITPOLBAT, a project to create a joint battalion with Poland's military.
• LITBAT, a project aimed to reorganized the Grand Duke Algirdas Battalion into a mechanized infantry battalion, capable of operating together with NATO forces. Executed with the help of Denmark's military instructors.
• Grunwald Wind, a biannual military practice in Poland. The Brigade's HQ and the Duchess Birtutė Battalion take part in those.
• The biannual Amber Hope military practice, together with other BALTBAT members.
• The NATO military practice Strong Resolve 2001 and Strong Resolve 2002 in Poland.
• The Cooperative Lantern 2002 military practice in the Netherlands, attended by soldiers from the Brigade HQ and the King Mindaugas Battalion.

  International peacekeeping missions

• UNPROFOR ;
• IFOR ;
• SFOR ;
• KFOR.
• OIF