Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia welcomes new Commander

January 3, 2023 - Defence Stories

Caption

Lieutenant-Colonel Craig Higgins, second from right, officially became the Commanding Officer (CO) of the enhanced Force Presence (eFP) Battle Group (BG) Latvia from outgoing CO LCol Jesse Van Eijk in a Change of Command ceremony that was held December 13, 2022 at Camp Ādaži in Ādaži, Latvia.

Photos By Sergeant First Class Jesus Aguilera, Spanish Army.

For the next six months, Lieutenant-Colonel Craig Higgins will command the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia (eFP BG Latvia) located in Camp Ādaži, Kadaga, Latvia. LCol Higgins assumed command of the multinational Battle Group from LCol Jesse van Eijk in a ceremony held on December 13, 2022.

“This is an incredible opportunity and a unique time in history to be part of this operation. I am looking forward to leading and working alongside the 10 other nations that comprise the Battle Group,” said LCol Higgins.

With Canada as the Framework Nation, eFP Battle Group Latvia, which was established in 2017, is made up of over 1,200 soldiers from 10 nations including Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. With multinational leadership and support, forces from all sending nations are enabled to come together and effectively work as one team under the Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade Group to deter and, if necessary, defend the people of Latvia from any potential aggression.

The focus for the next few months for the BG will be preparing for NATO validation in March during exercise CRYSTAL ARROW. This exercise will confirm the efficiency of the multinational battle group in conducting combat manoeuvres with allied units within the Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

“Our goal leading up to the exercise is to ensure all of our companies have the ability to work with other nations to effectively and efficiently conduct tactical operations,” explained LCol Higgins.

“Exercise CRYSTAL ARROW will further solidify our BG and our participating contingents can operate together successfully.”