Polish and US Forces bond through weapons

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Capt. Brent A. Kemp from Wylie, Texas, Texas National Guard Agribusiness Development Team-IV, accepts his Polish Army Rifle Marksmanship Gold Badge from Task Force White Eagle Battle Group Alpha Polish Army Lt. Col. Jaroslaw Gorowski Feb. 19. Twenty-three U.S. Army soldiers were given the opportunity to qualify on the Polish AK-74 5.56 mm Mini-Beryl short assault rifle at Forward Operating Base Ghazni Feb 6. (Photo by: U.S. Army Sgt. Leonardo Ruiz)  

GHAZNI PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

02.06.2011

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In a successful exercise to promote camaraderie and esprit de corps between the Polish and U.S. forces on Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle’s Polish Battle Group A invited soldiers from Texas Army National Guard Ghazni Agribusiness Development Team-IV to spend the morning qualifying on Polish rifles Feb. 6.

Twenty-three U.S. Army ADT-IV soldiers braved the cold and snowy conditions and were instructed in weapons familiarization before lining up at the test fire range located on the FOB. The soldiers fired and qualified with the Polish AK-74 5.56 mm Mini-Beryl short assault rifle.

“This was most likely the first time U.S. soldiers had an opportunity to shoot from our rifles,” said Polish Battle Group A Lt. Jakub Węcławowicz. “They had a lot of fun which was the main goal of this competition - to enjoy it.”

The soldiers who qualified were presented with their official certificates and rifle badges during a ceremony Feb. 19. Polish Army Lt. Col. Jaroslaw Gorowski presented the badges. Eight soldiers received the bronze badge, 11 soldiers received the silver badge, and four soldiers received the most-coveted gold badge.

U.S. Army Capt. Brent A. Kemp from Wylie, Texas was one of the four soldiers who received the gold badge. “This was a truly outstanding event that allowed us to do something we ordinarily wouldn’t have had the chance to do” he said. “We work alongside our Polish Army counterparts on missions, so it was a nice break to go out during some very rare down time to fire their rifles and qualify within their standards on their course.”

To reciprocate, Ghazni ADT-IV is planning a similar opportunity for the Polish soldiers to qualify on the M4 rifle in the spring.

• Date Taken: 02.06.2011
• Date Posted: 02.25.2011 05:22
• Story ID: 66045
• Location: GHAZNI PROVINCE, AF