– Let’s start from the beginning. Laura, tell us when you joined the Riflemen’s Union and how this decision came about?
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– Actually, it all started not so long ago, although I dreamed about it for a very long time – about sixteen years. Life just unfolded in such a way that I was raising a small daughter, family was the priority. And when my daughter grew up (she is now twenty-one), I had more time for myself and realized that I could finally fulfill what I had wanted for a very long time.
I joined the Riflemen’s Union in February 2024. Very symbolic – I took the oath on February 16th. And from that day on, I just dived headfirst into riflemen activities. It seems everything I was missing suddenly appeared here.
I was born and raised in Alytus. I only briefly lived in another Lithuanian city, but after a few years I still returned to Alytus. This is my place. I never wanted to leave Lithuania, I have always been a patriot. I always felt that this is my home. And I joined the Riflemen’s Union not specifically because of war or any fears. There was just an inner need – like a desire encoded inside.
– You have accomplished a lot during this time. What activities take up the biggest part of your rifleman life today?
– When I came to the Riflemen’s Union, I started completely from scratch. I was very lucky with people – I had a good teacher who encouraged me to participate everywhere, learn, try. So after just half a year as a rifleman, I completed the squad leader course with honors. I was supposed to be appointed to the squad leader position. It was a bit of a shock because it seemed impossible to prepare for such duties in such a short time. But if you want to, you can do anything.
Currently, I am the deputy platoon leader, and before that, I tried to attend all possible courses and trainings. I have completed basic rifleman skills, medical, drone, machine gunner, sharpshooter, instructor, engineering, etc. courses. I just finished the riflemen platoon leader course.
I think if you are a leader, you have to understand everything – from tactics to weaponry. As one friend wrote to me after the squad competition: “A SUPER person who shows everyone an example not with empty words but with strong and concrete examples. Anyone can be a leader and lead, but to be a leader and an example, respected for your work – far from everyone.” I try to show others by my example.
– Besides all that, you also lead a young riflemen group?
– Yes, I have a young riflemen group at Alytus “Volungė” progymnasium. Although my main job is completely different – I work as an accountant.
I started working with the group after one of the young riflemen survival summer camps I participated in. Here, my ability to communicate with children was noticed by a non-formal education methodologist who offered me to lead the group. I like working with children, maybe because I am still a bit of a child inside. I find a connection with them very naturally (smiles).
Now I have about eighteen young riflemen in the group. There are definitely some who are very motivated, very strong.
In the group, I never tell children to do what I don’t do myself. If we do squats, we do them together. If you want to inspire people, you have to set an example. Everything I learned in the riflemen courses, I apply in the young riflemen activities.
If a child wants to, then everything is possible. We go on hikes, learn, sometimes after the official program we walk extra kilometers if they want more.
The most important thing is motivation and example. Children quickly sense whether you really live by it.
– You have plenty of activities. How do you manage everything? And what about free time?
– I don’t really have free time at the moment because in the evenings I study accounting at college – I have worked in this field for twenty years, but I want to officially complete it. And also the platoon leader course. I won’t lie, this stage was really tough. There were even times when I joined the platoon leader course in the evening while sitting in college lectures. It takes a lot of will. That’s how I manage (smiles).
Let’s talk about the United Best Squad competition. You participated in the Officer A. Juozapavičius 1st Battalion riflemen squad team. How did you end up in this competition?
I dreamed about it for the last two years. A couple of years ago, I only saw off and welcomed the team at the squad competition. Then I saw the participating girls, saw their determination – I realized I wanted to too.
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But I was always held back: “Don’t go yet, it’s very hard there.” This year, a week before the competition, unexpectedly one person dropped out of the team and I was offered to participate instead. I didn’t really have a choice when I heard: “Laura, you go, that’s it.” (smiles)
– The question about preparation for the competition is immediately off the table…
– Yes, there was no specific preparation for the competition. Of course, the team trained and prepared, and my preparation, I would say, was ongoing. All my courses, tactics, topography, and other preparations were continuous, knowledge and experience accumulated steadily.
– What was the hardest moment in the competition?
– Friday evening – rain, fatigue, it seemed the body no longer wanted anything. And then you realize how much the team means. One minute one is weak, the next – another. Without the team, no one could endure there alone. So together we reached the finish. And the team leader is a “super” person, contributed a lot by motivating.
– Which episode was the most memorable? Was there a moment when you had to push beyond your limits?
– There was a task – to cross a river. I myself no longer had the strength to pull myself over the rope – my teammates just pulled me out.
Then after crossing, we had to hold a “plank” position with a backpack on the back and answer questions. To my great surprise, I held the “plank” position very easily.
I still don’t understand how a person can have no strength to cross a river but after a minute hold a “plank” and complete the task. Then I realized that human capabilities are much greater than one thinks.
– When were the emotions the strongest?
– I would say – at the finish. Definitely – at the finish.
Probably for the first time in my life, I felt so strongly what it means not to give up. There were moments when I thought this was my end, but the team did not let me stop. When we finished, there were tears of joy and an inner question: “Did I really do this?”
– Did you learn anything new about yourself after this competition?
– Only that I can do much more than I thought. At first, I set a goal to last at least one day, but it turned out I lasted until the end. If I had to continue on Sunday, I probably would have gone. And after the finish, while waiting for the competition to end, I put on perfume, put on my beret, and walked around the city. I didn’t want to sit and wait.
– So you didn’t get blisters on your feet?
– Not at all. Only my shoulder was locked, but my feet remained blister-free. I prepared for that, wore good socks, immediately put on plasters, used foot powder. All this comes from experience, from hikes we go on with the young riflemen.
– What would you say to those who are considering participating in the Squad competition but are afraid?
– First of all, you need to overcome fear. Usually, it is not our abilities that limit us, but fears, uncertainty about what will happen.
If you don’t try, you will never know what you can do, and when you try, you see that you can do much more than you imagined. Everything is really possible when a person wants it. This applies not only to competitions but to all things in life.
– Let’s talk about prizes. For several years in a row, there are many serious sponsors in this competition who provide various prizes, and teams have the opportunity to choose them. What did your team choose?
– Last year, the team chose a gift voucher for a SPA relaxation because only then do the wives let the men go to the competition (smiles); this year as well. Even if we had won first place – we would have chosen exactly the same prize. Our team goes to the competition not for prizes, but for themselves, to prove to themselves that they can.
– If you had to describe the experience in the competition in one sentence – what would it be?
– The most important thing is the team and the sense of togetherness – don’t be afraid if you don’t know something, there will definitely be someone in the team who knows and will help, together we will do everything.
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More articles in the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union magazine “Trimitas”.
Photos: Valdas Kilpys, Vidmantas Činauskas, Laura’s personal album
