After heading the Land Forces for five years, Žukas will serve as Lithuania's military representative to NATO and the European Union (EU) in Brussels, the Defense Ministry said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Leika said he had never grown apart from the Land Forces.
"I understand well the serious tasks we will have to face in connection to peace-time tasks, international operations and armed defense. It is also clear that we will have to prepare ourselves in a due manner because nobody will do this for us," said the newly-appointed commander.
Before the appointment as chief of the Land forces, Leika worked as director general for capacities and munitions at the ministry. He will be replaced by Colonel Valdas Siaučiulis in the post.
Leika has been serving in Lithuania's defense system since March 1991, he has served in then Volunteer National Defense Service, headed the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Motorized Infantry Battalion, the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the Afghan province of Ghor and held various leading positions in Lithuania and abroad.
He is a graduate of the General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian War Academy, has completed a land forces college in the US, the Baltic Defense College in Tartu. He holds a master's degree in the humanities and strategic studies.
In Lithuania, the commander of Land Forces is appointed and dismissed by the defense minister upon proposal of the chief of defense. Land Forces is part of Lithuania's Armed Forces aiming to prepare military units for protection and defense of Lithuania's land territory and able to participate in international operations. The military and civilian staff of the Land Forces currently includes about 3,500 people in addition to about 4,300 volunteer troops.
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| Alfredo Pliadžio nuotr./Almantas Leika |
