Stars and Stripes to begin newspaper distribution in Latvia and Lithuania

Stars and Stripes will begin distributing newspapers to three U.S. military locations in Latvia and Lithuania next week as it expands print access for American service members serving along NATO’s eastern flank.

Starting Oct. 1, the initial distribution will provide 270 newspapers per publication day, according to a Stars and Stripes statement.

Forward Operating Site Lielvarde in Latvia and FOS Pabrade/Herkus in Lithuania will each receive 100 copies, while FOS Adazi in Latvia will receive 70.

U.S. troops rotate through Latvia and Lithuania to train with NATO allies and help deter potential threats to the Baltic states.

The expansion follows feedback from deployed personnel and military leaders about extending Stars and Stripes’ print distribution beyond Poland, said Lt. Col. Daniel Quinlan, commander of Stars and Stripes Europe and Expeditionary.

“Our mission is to provide trusted, independent news and information to U.S. military personnel wherever they serve,” Quinlan said. “When opportunities arise to expand our distribution network and increase support to deployed forces, we evaluate them carefully and act on them whenever feasible.”

“Expanding into Latvia and Lithuania is another opportunity to ensure service members in forward locations have access to the same high-quality news and information available elsewhere across the theater,” he added.

Stars and Stripes reviews its expeditionary distribution network each fiscal year, considering changes in U.S. force posture, costs, logistical feasibility and feedback from supported commands, Quinlan said.

The organization added the distribution in Latvia and Lithuania without increasing its overall expeditionary budget by reducing costs and improving efficiency elsewhere in its operations, he said.

At all three locations, Stars and Stripes worked with U.S. mayor cells, the teams that manage day-to-day support, to establish distribution points and determine the number of newspapers for each site based on the needs of each community.

First Lt. Elyse Montang, officer in charge of the 734th Regional Support Group’s Adazi mayor cell, said the arrival of physical newspapers will be a “good morale boost.”

Word of the paper’s arrival has been circulating among tenant units, and personnel are eager to see it, she said.

The new deliveries come as the Pentagon considers changes to how Stars and Stripes reaches its readers.

A March modernization directive calls for a transition toward digital distribution, though it sets no timetable for ending the print edition. For now, Stars and Stripes continues to distribute newspapers overseas, a practice dating to World War II.

Quinlan said connectivity varies among deployed locations, where internet access can be affected by bandwidth, operational security requirements or mission demands.

“A newspaper doesn’t require power, bandwidth or a data connection,” he said. “It can be picked up in a dining facility, shared among co-workers or read whenever a service member has a few minutes between mission requirements.”

Stars and Stripes will manage printing, transportation and delivery of the newspapers along with placement in branded newspaper racks at the three locations.

The distribution system is designed so personnel at the installations will not have to manage routine newspaper delivery. Stars and Stripes will work directly with its contracted printer and distribution contractor to maintain regular deliveries.

No plans to expand print distribution to Estonia or other locations along NATO’s eastern flank have been announced, but Quinlan said Stars and Stripes will continue evaluating its network as the location and needs of U.S. forces change.

“We remain committed to providing trusted news and information to service members where mission requirements take them,” Quinlan said.