A Lithuanian schoolgirl's prize-winning essay has led to an unforgettable ride in a German Leopard main battle tank.
Kamilė V. won the experience through a national competition organized by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense. Her entry, written in German, focused on NATO and hybrid threats.
The visit took place at the Pabradė training area during the large-scale "Freedom Shield" exercise. German troops from the future permanent Lithuania Panzerbrigade 45 are stationed there, close to the Belarusian border.
Philipp, a soldier from Mechanized Infantry Battalion 122, guided Kamilė through the equipment. He showed her the remote-controlled turret of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.
"On top, we've got a 30mm automatic cannon," he explained. "The rate of fire is mechanically limited to conserve ammunition."
Kamilė noted the vehicle's compact interior, joking that the controls resembled a "PlayStation console." Her main ride, however, was in the much larger Leopard tank.
"What impressed me most was its size, the modern technology and what it looked like inside," she said, having sat in each of the tank's four crew positions.
The essay contest, titled "We Are NATO," attracted a record number of participants. Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa stated the growing interest shows young Lithuanians are engaged with the country's security. A recent survey indicated 72% of Lithuanians support the permanent German troop deployment.