KLAIPEDA, LITHUANIA – In conjunction with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 13-year partnership with Lithuania, five members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are participating in the multi-national Baltic exercise called Amber Hope from June 14 through July 1.
Amber Hope 2007 is a biennial multinational exercise in Klaipeda, Lithuania, that works to improve operations between various countries in the event of a crisis. The training includes classes in riot control, site inspection, conducting patrols, mine awareness, first aid, convoy operations and weapon familiarization.
“This exercise allows us to work side-by-side with our military counterparts from around the world,” said PA National Guard member Maj. Ian Ranberg, who is serving as chief of the mobile civil-military cooperation team for the Lithuanian Battalion. “Although we are part of a team that speaks little English, we definitely have been able to lend the expertise we have gained from our training as Pennsylvania National Guard members to this multinational training exercise. It’s an experience we will never forget.”
Other Guard members are Maj. Chris Ferarra of Jonestown, Maj. Ian Ranberg of Souderton, Maj. Mike Levitsky of Havertown (presently stationed at the US Embassy, Vilnius, Lithuania) and 1st Lt. Jay Ostrich of Cornwall and Pfc. Matt Jones of Philadelphia.
On Monday, participants began a field-training exercise where they put into action what they have learned. They are working to establish
peace during a simulated ethnically motivated conflict. The scenario takes into account the present-day challenges and current on-going international operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In addition to five Pennsylvania National Guard members, participants in this year’s exercise include troops from Armenia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the United Kingdom.