3/4 ABCT meshes training strategy with NATO Force Integration Unit in Poland

Photo By Capt. Scott Walters | Maj. Jon Anderson (left), operations officer, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, leads a tour of the brigade command post during a visit by NATO Force Integration Unit Poland leaders to the brigade’s headquarters at Zagan, Poland, March 15, 2017. Acting as the current rotational land force for U.S. Army Europe’s Atlantic Resolve, 3/4 ABCT staff with the NFIU to discuss integrating the brigade’s training strategy with overall Alliance objectives. The small NFIU headquarters, which are based in eight NATO countries, help facilitate the rapid deployment of Allied forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, support collective defense planning, and assist in coordinating training and exercises. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Scott Walters, 3rd ABCT Public Affairs, 4th Inf. Div.)  

ZAGAN, POLAND

03.15.2017

Story by Capt. Scott Walters 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

ZAGAN, Poland – Leaders from the NATO Force Integration Unit in Poland and 3rd Armored (“Iron”) Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, met here March 15 to discuss how the NFIUs can help the U.S. heavy brigades rotating through Europe mesh training priorities and larger Alliance objectives within the host nations they operate.

Visiting 3/4 ABCT’s headquarters in Poland for the first time, Polish Col. Artur Bogowicz, NFIU Poland commander, explained how his organization helps facilitate the rapid deployment of Allied forces to eastern Europe. Part of the Iron Brigade’s mission under Atlantic Resolve is to demonstrate the ability to quickly respond to a crisis, which could mean moving across several NATO member or partner nations.

“We have a direct connection with the highest key leaders of Poland and NATO to make things happen quickly. We would help the ABCT determine where they fall into an overall defense plan in an Article 5 incident,” said Bogowicz.

Under Article 5, an attack against one Ally is considered an attack against all Allies, and thus NATO members would provide a collective defense. This fits into 3/4 ABCT’s deterrence role under Atlantic Resolve as part of U.S. Army Europe’s overall commitment to the collective defense and security in eastern Europe.

Since arriving in Europe in January, 3/4 ABCT has made strides toward improved interoperability with land-force counterparts in the eight NATO countries its units are operating in. However, synchronizing priorities among multiple military and diplomatic organizations often requires a centralized voice.

“That’s where the NFIUs help,” said Maj. Jon Anderson, 3/4 ABCT operations officer. “They can provide a balance across all the warfighting functions toward operations and can provide continuity from one Atlantic Resolve rotation to the next. They’re in essence an extension of NATO or an embassy for us, providing in-roads to nations as we move to and from countries in eastern and central Europe. They can provide the high-level conversation needed to minimize roadblocks.”

While visiting Zagan, NFIU Poland leaders looked at 3/4 ABCT’s training plan for the duration of the heavy brigade’s Atlantic Resolve rotation through September. This includes moving the majority of the brigade from Poland to Germany at the end of March for participation in the multinational exercise Combined Resolve VIII as well as future moves to Romania and back to Germany for similar exercises.

“It’s important for us to know where units are so we can help plan space for all and bridge infrastructure gaps,” said Lt. Cdr. William Inglis, a NFIU Poland planner from the British Royal Navy. “Anything that needs to be planned and synchronized with host nations we do because we are multinational and one NFIU is linked to another to synch efforts across borders.”

Besides Poland, NATO has since 2015 established NFIUs in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia.

“The NFIUs will help us speak the same language as our host-nation allies in terms of interoperability, whether it’s linking communications platforms, sharing information, easing our freedom of movement, or developing unified training plans,” said Anderson. “They’re a great asset in a complex operating environment.”

• Date Taken: 03.15.2017
• Date Posted: 03.16.2017 14:33
• Story ID: 227080
• Location: ZAGAN, PL