Open to the public: NATO allies host open house for Polish community

Photo By Sgt. Marcus Floyd | Members of the Drawsko Pomorski community examine military vehicles May 6, 2015, at Camp Konotop, Poland. Soldiers from the Polish, U.S., Canadian, and French armies invited the local community to the open house as part of 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. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Marcus Floyd, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)  

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, POLAND

05.06.2015

Story by Spc. Marcus Floyd 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP KONOTOP, Poland - Soldiers from the Polish, U.S., French and Canadian armies hosted an open house for the Polish community of Drawsko Pomorskie May 6, 2015 at Camp Konotop, Poland.

“We're showing our vehicles to the Polish people and their kids,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Alan Garcia, a Los Angeles native and cavalry scout assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “We're showing them the insides of the vehicles so that they can see what we brought with us.”

As part of the open house, the U.S. soldiers brought several vehicles: an M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank, an M3A3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle, an M1151 Humvee and an M88 Armored Recovery Vehicle.

“It's been good, a little crazy with all the kids running around, but good,” Garcia said. “You can tell the people are happy we're here, and they're excited to see the vehicles, especially the Abrams.”

Members of the Polish community not only interacted with U.S. troops, but with soldiers from the Canadian, French and Polish armies as well.

“We're having an open house to show the community what the training area looks like, what our capabilities are and our interoperability within the allied forces,” said 1st. Clayton Stransky, an armor officer from Durango, Colorado, with HHC, 2nd Bn., 7th Inf. Reg., 1st ABCT, 3rd Inf. Div. “It's been really good.”

In addition to civilians exploring the various military vehicles, the soldiers used the open house to examine the vehicles and weapons of their NATO allies.

“We're all getting on the same sheet of music, which we were to some degree, but actually training together and executing together is helping solidify not only our working relationship,” Stransky said, “but its helping develop some friendships in the process.”

The open house is the latest relationship-building event to occur 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.

Many different training exercises have taken place during Atlantic Resolve, but having an open house gave soldiers the chance to show the public how Atlantic Resolve strengthens relationships between allied militaries and local communities.

“It's overall to show them we are working closely with our NATO allies so they have an understanding there is an agreement and a good working relationship between our nations,” Stransky said.

• Date Taken: 05.06.2015
• Date Posted: 05.08.2015 04:55
• Story ID: 162652
• Location: DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, PL
• Hometown: DURANGO, CO, US
• Hometown: LOS ANGELES, CA, US