Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training

By Sgt. Brandon AndersonJuly 6, 2015

Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Polish soldiers assigned to the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade pull security during a combined training event July 2, 2015 with U.S. Soldiers of P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment near Nowa Dęba, Poland. During the training,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Mark Caloca, a cavalry scout assigned to 2nd Platoon, P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, looks through the aiming mechanism of a grenade launcher used by soldiers of the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade during an ir... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Polish soldier assigned to the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade inserts a practice round into a U.S. mortar system during a weapons familiarization exercise July 3, 2015 near Nowa Dęba, Poland. During the training both armies shared tactics ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Platoon, P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and Polish soldiers assigned to the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade participate in a weapons familiarization exercise July 3, 2015 near Nowa Dęba, Pola... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Platoon, P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, and Polish soldiers assigned to the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade, participate in a weapons familiarization exercise July 3, 2015 near Nowa Dęba, Po... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polish, US soldiers participate in tactics training
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Devon Sealey, a Solider assigned to P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, makes his way into the treeline during an irregular tactics training exercise hosted by soldiers of the Polish army's 6th Airborne Brigade near No... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NOWA DĘBA, Poland - Familiarization is key to a successful partnership.

To begin their mission during Atlantic Resolve, U.S. Soldiers with P Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and the Polish soldiers of the 6th Airborne Brigade participated in a tactics and equipment familiarization exercise beginning July 2 at the Nowa Dęba Training Area in southern Poland.

The two-day event gave the allied troops an opportunity to get to know each other's equipment and tactics, as well as providing them a chance to build a deeper sense of cooperation.

On the first day of the event, the Polish soldiers took the lead by having the U.S. troops join them during a tactical training event. Both groups practiced patrolling a wooded area while observing how the other group conducted the patrol. After the event, the leaders of the groups evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the different teams.

"We came here as part of the 6th Polish Airborne Brigade to spend six weeks training with the Americans," said Polish starszy kapral (senior corporal) Adam Lewkowski. "Now, as part of the NATO forces, we need to be able to cooperate with each other."

After the combined patrol, the Polish troops gave the Soldiers of P Troop a class on the military culture and customs of the Polish army. They provided a weapons familiarization class and showed them the basics of their weapons and how they were used.

"Being a part of joint operations while deployed, there's always a chance that we'll need to be able to use the U.S. weapons and vice versa," said Lewkowski. "We know that in a real combat environment that it's useful to know how to handle each other's weapons, because we play on the same team."

On day two, both groups brought out their equipment so each country's soldiers would have the opportunity to become familiar with the multiple weapons systems employed by both countries during a combat operation. Both groups broke down their weapon systems and gave demonstrations on how they function.

"This type of training is about integrating the U.S. and Polish forces to strengthen our NATO partnership," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeffery Taylor, a section sergeant for 3rd Platoon, P Troop. "The biggest thing we're learning here is how to integrate with a completely different force, and training like this helps us meet those objectives."

Having been deployed in combat operations with other U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Lewkowski said the experience he and his fellow troops are getting is invaluable.

"I've been in the military for 12 years, and have been deployed with U.S. Soldiers while in Afghanistan," said Lewkowski. "Although we use the same type of ammunition in our weapons, our manuals for using our weapons are totally different than the way the U.S. handles theirs."

With the training here taking place over a six-week period, Capt. Kaleb Blankenship, the commander of P Troop, said he's confident in the determination and ability of the two allies to not only work together, but come away from the training with a better appreciation of how they function as a team.

"You can learn a lot about another's capabilities through structured training, but you can learn much more and really get at the heart of interoperability through conversations among friends," said Blankenship. "We are laying the foundation for enduring relationships."

This team of allies and friends will train together here for five more weeks before P Troop relocates to other locations to continue their allied-centric training.

Atlantic Resolve is an ongoing multinational partnership focused on joint training and security cooperation between NATO allies.