Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Motorised Infantry Battalion (BDMIB)

On 19 June, 1992 by the Chief of the Field Army Brigade Lt. Col. Česlovas Jezerskas order No 146, captain Rimantas Baltušis, Brigade Combat and landing training department, was commissioned to form a separate Motor-borne Battalion. By the order of the Minister of National Defence Audrius Butkevičius of 14 July, 1992, Nemirseta garrison town with all its equipment was to be transferred to Field Army Brigade. Nemirseta garrison town is situated West to the former road Klaipėda-Palanga. In this garrison town Field Army Klaipėda Motor-borne Battalion was located. Since 2 November, 1992 Cpt. Rimantas Baltušis was appointed as a Commander of the Battalion.

On 20 August, 1993 the Battalion was redeployed to Klaipėda. The territory with the premises undertaken from the Russian Federation was transferred to Klaipėda Motor-borne Battalion. In October 1993 the Field Army Brigade "Iron Wolf" Klaipėda Motor-borne Battalion was re-named to Klaipėda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion.

While improving the management structure since 1 April, 1995 Motorised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" Klaipeda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion was transferred under the subordination of Klaipėda Navy Forces.  The Battalion was named to Klaipėda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion". According to the new organizational structure, composition and tasks the Battalion soldiers were attributed to Maritime Infantry and execute Coast Guard and Attack Operations.

On 27 October, 1999 a new Motorized Infantry Brigade was formed, which on 22 February, 2000 was named "Žemaitija". Since 1 December, 1999 Navy Forces Klaipėda 7th Dragoon Coast Guard Battalion was transferred under the direct subordination of Motorized Infantry Brigade "Žemaitija" West and on 22 February, 2000 the Battalion was given the name of Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Training Battalion.

During the reform process on 1 September, 2004, the Battalion was transferred under the direct subordination of the Chief of the Volunteer Service of National Defence. On 1 December, 2004 it was re-organized into a Training Battalion; its former activities were changed and the staffs of National Defence Volunteer Service centres were transferred under the subordination of the Battalion.

The Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Training Battalion was re-organized and re-named many times and its place in the Lithuanian Armed Forces has changed too. Dragoon Training Battalion which had lived through harder and easier periods, today is successfully executing military preparation and training tasks in the structure of the National Defence Volunteer Service. For the fifth year the Dragoon Training Battalion is preparing the soldiers of professional military service of the National Defence Volunteer Service and is also training and assessing the volunteers of other military departments for international operations, prepares specialists and training programs following the instructions of higher headquarters and participate in different international exercises. The volunteers, who go on international missions, renew their military knowledge and consolidate it in Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion and each volunteer serving in this Battalion, contribute to the execution of international obligations of Lithuania.

The Battalion presently consists of the Battalion headquarters, staff and support company and training section. Three companies are formed in the Training Battalion: Alfa - which is responsible for the basic training course of the volunteers and career courses for volunteers, Bravo company is in charge of the preparation of volunteers for international operations, and Charlie company prepares specialists for the army and volunteer forces. Lt Col Saulius Paliulis is the commander of the Battalion.

Base of the Battalion

The Battalion is located in the Northern part of the city. The territory of the Battalion covers the area of 11 hectares where round the formation ground there are situated: the headquarters, big and the small barracks, mess hall, initial health care centre, technical park, shooting-ground, tactics and training centre, officers` club where different events, celebrations and festivals take place. On the first floor of the officers` club there is an exposition reflecting the whole history of the Dragoon. The Battalion has got a good sports base. The volunteers can go for active sports there. There is a library in the Battalion and four rooms for guests.

Military medicine service initial health care centre, Mine clearing department of the Engineering battalion, and Navy divers` training centre use the base of the Dragoon Battalion as well as the Navy Forces orchestra which always helps the Dragoon during the festivals and events and once a week at formation.  

Kairiai training area

In 1949 in Kairiai, Klaipėda district, was established a military training area. On 17 June, 1995 by the order of the Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania it was assigned to the Battalion. Up to now Kairiai training area is an inseparable part of the Battalion and it is intensively used as the training location of volunteers. In the territory of Kairiai training area there are eight training fields, two shooting-grounds with all equipments, destruction ground for explosives, grenade throwing ground and an autodrome. The soldiers acquire here practical knowledge of Basic volunteer training course and the participants of other courses; here also train the volunteers of PKT of the battalion. In 2004 for the preparation of the volunteers for Peacemaking operations and for training to fight in the built-up area there were installed control points and the imitation of Marių town with camps. The volunteers going on international missions in Kairiai training area get the practical knowledge how to deal with an explosive, to conduct roads and bridges  inspection, how to protect not only himself but also the surrounding population, the cooperation with „locals" is also imitated there and etc. Emergency driving is also taught there. For this reason in Kairiai training area there is installed a route which resembles the roads in Afghanistan.  Here are the water barriers, different passages via down lands and pits.

Kairiai training area is the only one in Lithuania according to geographical location and the specifics of possibilities, where reciprocity exercises and training can be executed by Navy, Air and Land forces at a time. Navy Forces, the National Defence Volunteer Forces 3rd detachment, and SOP organize the exercises in Kairiai training area, there take place the final PRT exercises, Lithuanian border security and fire-fighting services and other institutions training. The environmental protection specialists are happy with the presence of the Armed Forces in this object - the volunteers in Kairiai training area help to protect rare areas of the reservation, handle the reservation, and get involved in different planting and cleaning events.  

Public relations

Since the foundation of the Battalion the Dragoon participate in Klaipėda cultural life. The Battalion cooperates with Klaipėda cultural and sports organizations (children ward house "Smiltelė", Klaipėda Youth centre, Deaf and hearing-impaired school, "Gedminai" basic school). For the whole year the Battalion is open for public organizations especially for those that work with the youth.  During a year Battalion receives approximately 20 excursions for the children from different schools and organizations and according to the requests and possibilities the places are allotted for children's summer camps in Kairiai training area.    

The motto of the Battalion - Do or die!

The foundation date of the Battalion - 19 July, 1992.