BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland- The U.S. Army has established operations centers all over the world, giving the Army the ability to deploy any number of soldiers, vehicles and equipment at a moment's notice. However, when those different assets are sent on a mission far from home in a foreign land, many obstacles can get in the way of successfully completing the mission.
One such obstacle is the language barrier. Breakdowns in communication can cause devastating effects to mission success, and because of this, soldiers must find a way to overcome this hindrance to achieve success. Fortunately for the U.S. Army's soldiers, local translators like Kasia Kardasiewicz from Warsaw, Poland, are ready and willing to help them overcome this language barrier. These translators are, and will continue to be, increasingly important in U.S. military operations.
Kardasiewicz, a translator working with Battle Group Poland during Saber Strike 18, helps bridge the language gap between the five different nations involved in the exercise as they work side by side during the eighth iteration of the long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise designed to enhance interoperability among allies and regional partners.
"I've been working with the public affairs units for the U.S. Army and Polish army to provide pictures and videos to civilians and report about what is going on here at Saber Strike 18", said Kardasiewicz. "With my previous experience working in media before, I enjoy talking to people and being involved when something interesting is taking place."
Kardasiewicz has studied the English language since the age of 14 beginning in primary school and with her parents sending her to private lessons. This pursuit gained momentum as she grew and eventually graduated college at Warsaw University with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in English Teaching, and becoming a certified English teacher in Poland.
It is this passion for her work that has helped the U.S. Army and Polish army specialists she works with conduct their duties as smoothly as possible and also provided her with an opportunity to make lifelong memories.
"I think it's a huge adventure and a way to use my linguistic skills," said Kardasiewicz. "It's awesome to witness the live-fire military exercises and travel in Strykers, not too many civilians get a chance to experience something like that."
The public affairs specialists she works with on a daily basis at Saber Strike 18 also have nothing but great things to say when asked about the difference Kardasiewicz has made.
"She's been a great help to us and has greatly increased the interoperability of our unit and our ability to accomplish the mission here at Saber Strike 18," said 1st Lt. Erica Mitchell of the Michigan Army National Guard, 126th Public Affairs Headquarters conducting their annual training with Battle Group Poland, "Without her language skills, we would have a very difficult time communicating with our counterparts from Poland and getting out in the field to provide media coverage of the exercise."
With the linguistic help, translators like Kardasiewicz provide, Saber Strike 18 and future training exercises will continue to successfully showcase the interoperability and great partnerships the U.S. Army has with its allies.
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