Vilnius resident who wanted to prepare to defend Lithuania was overwhelmed by the answer: “Some kindergarten”
Baršauskas, 45, who has been working in the interior for a quarter of a century, has decided not to consider volunteering for a long time.
An officer knows how to use a weapon – he has both official and personal. He is regularly involved in shooting and self-defense exercises as required by statutory officers.
“However, such training of officers is provided only for cases of civilian life – not for war. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the idea arose to enroll in the KASP to know how to defend my homeland. My grandparents not only lost property after the Russian occupation and annexation in 1940-1941, but were also deported to Siberia.
I want to be connected if the enemies attack Lithuania again, “said D. Baršauskas.
The officer’s wife Giedrė is a medic. She also considered volunteering, but quickly decided that if a war broke out suddenly, it would be most beneficial to perform direct duties. Especially since she is a surgeon.
The couple had previously talked about wanting to become volunteers or shooters, but postponed the idea because the children were still too young. Now the children are growing up, the threats to Lithuania are increasing, so D.Baršauskas recently decided to implement the old plan. However, it was found that not everything was so simple.
Stack of statements required
It seems at least strange to D.Baršauskas that Jaum’s application for admission to the voluntary submission procedure seems small. The application and identity document were not enough – a stack of various extracts from databases was requested.
Starting with education and qualifications, documents proving the right to drive vehicles and ending with a certificate of former employment and state social insurance. This certificate must state the reasons for dismissal 5 years ago.
“It simply came to my notice then. I have been an official for over 20 years and I am well aware of how public databases work because they have been used on a daily basis.
On a server computer, I can check the entire history of a person in 2 minutes: where and when he worked, how much he earned, what he bought, sold, declared, whether he had siblings, or bought a gun.
A modern state institution could and should check all the data, rather than requiring me to print extracts from the Sodra database. Some kind of stone age “, D. Baršauskas was surprised.
The information in the territorial division of the KASP has been heard to be redundant for the state’s access databases, as future volunteers will extract these extracts themselves.
“And how do they check if I’m a representative of an unfriendly state and brought in any paper? Is everything okay here? ”The official asked.
In addition to applying to become a member of the KASP, the man had to sign a consent to be inspected by the Department of Homeland Security (SSD) for permission to work with classified information marked “Restricted Use.”
“As an officer, I already have that permission, and even at a higher level. I no longer need this permission and my personal file contains this information.
So why am I filling out that request? Some kind of kindergarten to which you have to confirm that you really exist. Lithuania is considered one of the ministries of defense of computerized states, and the National does not have such data! Not to mention ecology, when volunteers carry a stack of papers, ”said D. Baršauskas.
You have to wait in a long line
However, perhaps the biggest surprise for Vilnius residents was that the new candidates for KASPs would become the earliest in a year.
“Observing the events in Ukraine and seeing what measures Russia is taking there does not rule out the need for NATO involvement. If necessary, a reserve is crucial for the military. The impression is that Lithuania is not in a hurry to go to the reserve, “D. Baršauskas was angry.
According to the Vilnius resident, he should do nothing for the years while he is waiting for admission to the KASP – only be on the lists of candidates. There will be no training, as there are no opportunities to hold it yet.
“For me, due to the limitations of COVID-19, it has not been said for two years at all that members of the news KASP have been trained, so the queue has formed and the reception is now taking a long time. It is necessary to prepare for the admission of volunteers – it takes time, premises and other things, ”said D. Baršauskas.
Watching such sluggishness, the man asked what problems it was to set up an outdoor tent where the newcomers could live and find an instructor who could teach them. But he heard he needed money for food.
“It’s just a problem, I can buy food myself. I want to be fit for war, not wait for something, ”said the Vilnius resident.
He joined the Riflemen’s Union
On March 11, D.Baršauskas took the oath of office in Vilnius with a thousand like-minded people. The Riflemen’s Union is a state-sponsored paramilitary organization uniting people who are not indifferent to the life and defense of the state.
There were no obstacles for Vilnius to become a shooter: he registered, submitted documents, became a candidate, and soon became a full member of the union.
The man purchased a shooter’s uniform at his own expense, was sworn in, and training would begin soon.
“There are obvious differences between the public organization and the state. I became a shooter quickly and without obstacles, and I have to wait to join the KASP, ”said D. Baršauskas.
Selected no seats
Admission to voluntary non-permanent military service in our country is carried out by the Military Service and Staffing Service (KPKT).
As the representatives of this service explained to Lietuvos Rytas, in assessing the suitability for the position required to submit documents confirming education and qualifications, and in the presence of information from state registers, it is not necessary to submit it additionally.
In case of reasonable doubts about the accuracy of the documents, data and other information submitted by the candidate, the KPKT shall make an inquiry to the relevant entities. In such cases, the selection procedures shall be suspended until a response is received.
KASPs are divided into teams that operate in their territory. Some teams are more densely populated and the number of people willing to serve there is higher, making it difficult for almost all of them to accept new people.
For this reason, the admission process may take longer, as the national team no longer has vacancies to accept new troops.
According to the KPKT representatives, the basic training course for military volunteers took place even during the COVID-19 pandemic last year – it was organized 7 times, this year – already twice.
Ranks have risen sharply
When on February 24. The Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine, and not only the KASP but also the Riflemen’s Union received an influx of Lithuanians who wanted to volunteer. The latter received over 2 thousand. new applications to become shooters, with only 380 new members admitted last year.
The Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas announced in his facebook account that due to such an influx of newcomers, the Riflemen’s Union should allocate an additional 4 million euros this year in addition to the already allocated 2.5 million. euros.
The extra money will be used to train equipment, weapons, ammunition, communications and new shooters.
After the March 11 oath, the Riflemen’s Union unites about 13 thousand. members.
Entering the disease is relatively simple: you only need this union health questionnaire and submit a certificate of psychiatric and addictive disorders.
Shooters cannot become convicts involved in activities against the Lithuanian state and former KGB personnel.
“With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we really felt the increased desire of Lithuanians to become shooters – people turn to us both by phone and come to us.
Together we discuss how you could help each other and Lithuania if there was a threat. However, people do not panic, ”said Vytautas Žymančius, Commander of the 2nd Team of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union Vytautas the Great Riflemen (Kaunas County).
– How are the shooters prepared? – “Lietuvos rytas” asked V.Žymančius.
– Joining our union must have an unlawful, impeccable reputation. If a person wishes to perform the service of a shooter with a weapon, he must present one medical certificate, if without a weapon – another.
As soon as the necessary documents are received in medical institutions, so quickly does it become a shooter. We then take an oath and then direct the newcomers to the bases for exercise.
The goal of the shooters is to train the society to survive in emergency situations and to be able to help state institutions. We teach both theories during workday evenings and practice during tactical exercises on weekends.
– You were a soldier from 1990 to 2007 and are now a reserve captain. Do you think the shooters are getting the right military training?
– If a reserve soldier becomes a shooter, the officer, the policeman, his training and knowledge are the same. Such a person often prepares shooters himself.
If a shooter becomes a civil servant, say a director of educational institutions, his military preparation is quite different.
But we divide shooters into areas where they are most useful. Some are preparing to go to war with a weapon, others are really like intellectual activities. We are not challenging us all to fight like soldiers.
We are cooperating with the Lithuanian army. She helps us with weapons, instructors.
Especially in training young shooters. Students between the ages of 11 and 18 become young shooters. About 6 thousand of them are healthy.
They study according to their program throughout the year, and in the summer they gather at a camp staffed by many army instructors.
We also cooperate with the police, fire brigade and other institutions. For example, during a pandemic to us medical facilities, the police, the municipality. We have a lot of trained shooters to do the job.
– In case of danger, would the shooters have significant support from the Lithuanian Armed Forces?
– I’m not saying we can attack the first lines of the warriors, but you could take care of logistics, protection of some objects.
Every year – a thousand new volunteers
Conscripts under the age of 60, who have acquired the basic military training – all persons who have performed one service in the army – are included in the reserve of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. There are more than 100 thousand of them. About 22 thousand people are currently serving in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. soldiers.
The army reserve covers up to 2 thousand. soldiers. About 1 thousand people join KASP every year. soldiers.
A volunteer soldier participates in the exercise for 20 to 50 days a year. Training is often held on weekends, but no courses and longer exercises take place on weekdays. Volunteer service is a non-permanent military service compatible with his or her civilian work, science, or studies.
Volunteers can be called up for up to 7 days without prior notice. Their exercise, training and performance of their duties shall be regarded as the performance of public duties.
Employers are required to dismiss volunteer soldiers during their exercises, training, or when called upon to perform tasks. A person who has served in the KASP for 3 years is credited with permanent compulsory initial military service.
KASP is an important part of the Land Forces of the Lithuanian Armed Forces important for the territorial defense of the state.