CAMP KONOTOP, Poland - In addition to time, something else is required for trees to grow-commitment.
In an effort to redevelop the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, the Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, joined with NATO allies and members of the community to plant trees April 27, 2015 at Camp Konotop, Poland.
"We're out here with the Polish, French and Canadian troops to plant trees along the Drawsko training area," said Spc. Lukas Kruczkowski, a cryptologic linguist with HHC, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division.
"It's going pretty well, as planting trees can go, it's pretty fun to be working with our allied troops."
The project is the latest event to take place as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing multinational partnership focused on joint training and security cooperation between NATO allies, whose mission is the continued peace and stability of Europe.
In the spirit of this U.S. commitment to NATO allies, the tree-planing ceremony gave Soldiers the opportunity to build stronger relationships with the local people and reassure them of that commitment in a hands-on way.
"Every event like this, when we're partnered with other nations and communities, has always been positive," said Capt. Walter Biner, the company commander for HHC, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division. "That's where relationships are built, and any sort of event, it doesn't necessarily have to be combat-related, builds good relations and gives you a sense of who you're working with."
Originating as a community outreach event created by the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area commander, Col. Marek Gmurski, the ceremony also instilled a sense of environmental awareness amongst the volunteers.
"I think this is something we should do in the states," said Biner. "A lot of times when we come out into the training area, particularly with track vehicles, we tear up a lot of land. By taking the time to block off areas and getting a good community effort out here to rebuild and recreate some of the woodland is a positive experience."
One of the Soldiers who took advantage of the positive experience was Sgt. Bryan Murray, a track vehicle mechanic with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division.
"It was nice to to get out and see something different, help out and learn the culture a little bit," said Murray. "I love to get my [Soldiers] out and get involved with the community as much as possible."
With volunteers working in pairs, each team managed to plant a myriad of trees in the training area.
"I say on average, I planted about 100 trees today, with the help of my Soldiers," said Murray. "It would be nice to see the end result of the trees, but only time will tell."
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