Executive Summary
Elite Military Exchange Program: 150 officers annually to premier allied institutions. Three tracks: Junior Officer (50/year to US/UK platoon leader courses), Mid-Grade (70/year to French/US captain career courses, Staff Colleges), and Senior (30/year to War Colleges, strategic courses). Bilateral agreements with French Army, US Army TRADOC, UK Defence Academy. Return officers assigned to doctrine development, Training Command, or unit command. Target: 50% of battalion commanders have allied institution experience within 5 years.
In short: 150 officers trained abroad annually; 50% battalion commanders with allied training; Doctrine transformation accelerated
The Problem
Ukrainian success comes partly from officers trained at Western institutions pre-war—different thinking, decentralized command, combined arms integration. Lithuanian officer corps still transitioning from Soviet-influenced doctrine. Current exchange: 20-30 officers annually to allied courses. Gap: mid-grade officers who will command battalions lack exposure to advanced concepts. French Armor School, US Maneuver Warfare Center, UK Staff College produce officers who think differently. Without systematic exposure, Lithuanian doctrine remains derivative rather than innovative.