Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Lithuanian Partners Complete U.S. Army Flight Course By Maj. Travis Mueller,
                Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard
 FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Lithuania air force Capt. Matas Leckas and Capt. Valius Urbonas became the first Lithuanian pilots to graduate from the UH-60M Aviator Qualification Course at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Alabama, April 4. The Pennsylvania National Guard has partnered with Lithuania since 1993 as part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. Regular engagements and exchange training are crucial to that partnership. “The Pennsylvania National Guard will see the fruits of its labor every time a Lithuanian counterpart graduates from an aviation training school,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathaniel Curtis, a State Partnership Program coordinator with the Pennsylvania National Guard. “The ongoing rotary wing engagements with Pennsylvania ensure Lithuania is prepared for their incoming UH-60M Black Hawks, which may lead to future pilot and maintenance training exchanges for both partners.” The Lithuania air force will soon add UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to their fleet. The UH-60M is a newer, more advanced model of the UH-60. Sikorsky Aircraft began producing M models in 2006 to fulfill the U.S. Army’s goal of replacing its aging UH-60 fleet. Army Maj. Michael Bertsch, commander of the Army Aviation Support Facility, said Pennsylvania Army National Guard aviators are helping Lithuania prepare to reduce the friction they could face when they field the new airframe. “In spring of 2022, a Pennsylvania Army National Guard aviation enterprise team comprised of UH-60M subject matter experts visited Lithuania to tour the aviation maintenance facilities and offer suggestions on how to prepare for fielding UH-60M Black Hawks and assist in developing training strategies,” said Bertsch. “This trip laid the foundation for future visits and events with our partner nation.” In addition to attending Leckas and Urbonas’s graduation on April 4 to show their support, Pennsylvania Army aviation leaders have regularly traveled between the two countries and around the United States to advance the partnership. Since 2022, Soldiers with Pennsylvania’s Army aviation community attended UH-60M program management reviews in Lithuania and Huntsville, Alabama, with another planned in Lithuania this year. They also hosted the Lithuanian air force commander at Fort Indiantown Gap for a tour and briefing. Curtis said that although Lithuania will conduct formal helicopter training at Fort Novosel, additional on-the-job training with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard may supplement Lithuania’s training objectives and help keep their aviators’ certifications current. “Lithuania’s steadfast and motivated approach to aviation matches their Pennsylvania counterparts,” said Curtis. “The Lithuanian air force is ready and prepared for their incoming aircraft. Rather than wait, the Lithuanian air force is proactively sending their aviators and maintainers routinely to Army aviation schools in the United States to ensure they are ready to begin operations immediately when their UH-60M Black Hawks arrive.” The Lithuanian air force features a robust aviation maintenance program and has much in common with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. “I believe offering these types of opportunities to our Lithuanian partners is mutually benefiting and invaluable to both nations,” said Bertsch. “The Pennsylvania Army National Guard stands ready to provide aircraft maintenance and training recommendations, lessons learned, best practices, training opportunities and support as the Lithuanian air force fields the UH-60M. We will continue to strengthen the relationships and offer to provide guidance and training in the aviation maintenance realm.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Pennsylvania National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 Lithuania
 U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence
 
 Pennsylvania Guard, Lithuania Strengthen Partnership
 By Staff Sgt. Zoe Wockenfuss,
  Pennsylvania Guard Military Police Deploying to Guantanamo Bay
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  Pennsylvania Guard Prepares to Train Ukrainian Forces
 By Capt. Cory Johnson,
  More
 Idaho National Guard Opens Child Care Center Guard News • 10 hours ago
 After 80th D-Day Commemoration, Hokanson Looks to Future Guard News • 2 days ago
 106th Rescue Wing Conducts Comprehensive Rescue Training Guard News • 3 days ago
 Oregon Air Guard Security Forces Squadron Trains in Hawai'i Guard News • 3 days ago
 Alaska Air Guard Rescue Triad Conducts Water Rescue Training Guard News • 4 days ago
 2024 (180)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil