Other events in Baltic States

On September 20-24, Gen Tadeusz Kosciuska Land Force Academy in Wroclaw, Poland, hosted the Baltic Sea Military Academy Conference BSMAC where Lithuania was represented by the Commandant of Gen Jonas Zemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy Col Gintaras Bagdonas and three cadets, reported BC the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Other participants of the conference represented Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Germany. In the event heads of the Baltic Sea military academies discussed possibilities of cooperation, presented activities and education programmes of the institutions in their responsibility. Cadets and officers of the academies shared thoughts about requirements for physical shape in military education institutions, role of women in armed forces, dimension of knowledge of various cultures.

BSMAC gives an exclusive opportunity for cadets to communicate with counterparts and colleagues from military academies of other states, familiarize with officer training system of other countries, find new ideas, improve officer training, and discuss common problems side by side with officers. BSMAC is hosted by a country from the region in turn annually. Next the event will be held in Dresden, Germany. Cooperation among the Baltic Sea military academies began in 1998. The conference is attended by commandants, officers and cadets of the region's military academies. In the events officer training programs are presented, discussions on issues relevant both to leadership and cadets take place.

The conference was instituted as a result of the region's military institutions' authorities' decision to start closer cooperation and to contribute to safer and more stable environment in the Baltic Sea region. Venue of the first Baltic Sea Military Academy Conference was Bornholm, Denmark, in August 1998.