DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, Poland - As Soldiers and equipment arrive in country for the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division's Operation Atlantic Resolve rotation, the Polish Armed Forces General Command readies for a historic year of training.
For approximately three months, Soldiers and armored vehicles of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division will train with Polish Army troops.
Lt. Col. Artur Golawski, a public affairs officer with the Polish Armed Forces General Command in Warsaw, said they planned roughly 70 international and bilateral exercises this year, which is more than any previous year in Polish history. Last year the Polish Armed Forces conducted 35 international and bilateral exercises.
Some of the equipment being used by 2-7 Infantry is part of the European Activity Set. The European Activity Set is equipment the U.S. Army has staged in Europe ready for training and operations.
"Having equipment forward located as part of the European Activity Set enables CONUS-based Regionally Aligned Forces to quickly move to Europe, draw the equipment and move out on their training mission. This greatly reduces the cost and time needed to move our forces and enhance our capabilities to support our European Allies and partners," said Don Wrenn, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Plans and Exercises.
Although some equipment was left by previous rotations of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division brought more to expand operations in Eastern Europe, said Capt. Erik Hamilton, commander of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry.
This is exactly what the Polish Armed Forces General Command needed, according to Golawski. Having added equipment makes training possible on a larger scale than in the past, he said, and it was made possible due to the U.S. participation and planning.
"We are interested in joint, multinational training as it improves ours skills in planning, executing and conducting military and crisis operations in an international environment," Golawski said. "[The U.S.] troops' training and presence in Poland is also the mark of the allied solidarity and trust building."
That trust building is part of the overall Operation Atlantic Resolve mission to ensure NATO remains the most successful political and military alliance in history. In order to do that, allies must seize every opportunity to work and train together.
Operation Atlantic Resolve provides that opportunity and the Polish Armed Forces intend to make the most if it, said Golawski.
"It's improving our operational capabilities, develops understanding, and enhances our soldiers' skills," he said. "It's also discouraging a potential aggressor from interfering in our day-by-day existence."
Although Operation Atlantic Resolve's main directive is to enhance interoperability and cohesive operations between NATO nations, it's also a demonstration of the United States' commitment to NATO and the security of Europe.
The equipment will be staged in Germany until it's needed, but it also shows our adversaries that we can bring in equipment, no matter how large, to any place in the world, said Hamilton.
That's a welcome sentiment to the people of Poland.
"Poles feel much more secure, and Polish soldiers feel much more confidant having U.S. boots on Polish soil," Golawski said. "We'd like to have [the U.S. Army] as long as possible, to train and serve together.
"We will improve and build up infrastructure to host incoming allied forces because we see the benefits. The most important are peace and security.
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