U.S., Polish Soldiers conduct combined resupply operations

Photo By Capt. Scott Walters | U.S. Army Soldiers from 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Polish 35th Skwierzyna Air Defense Missile Squadron Soldiers conduct a convoy safety brief prior to a joint supply convoy mission to Polish bases at Zagan and Boleslawiec. The four Polish service members selected to join the convoy were integrated into the loading of repair parts, staging vehicles, serving on the convoy, and an after mission debrief upon returning to Skwierzyna. The joint operations are part of the 3rd ABCT's rotation under Atlantic Resolve. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kenneth Green, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division)  

SKWIERZYNA, POLAND

04.03.2017

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By 1st Lt. Edward Garibay
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

SKWIERZYNA, Poland – The 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, has teamed up with the Polish 35th Skwierzyna Air Defense Missile Squadron to transport important repair parts necessary to repair combat vehicles to units throughout Poland.

The convoy in support of Atlantic Resolve builds interoperability in a critical aspect of combined Allied operations – logistics – as the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team works as U.S. Army Europe’s rotational heavy brigade to deter aggression across an area of operations that ultimately stretches more than 1,500 miles.

“This has been a long anticipated opportunity,” said Capt. Michael E. Whitted Jr., commander of Company A, 64th BSB. “Any time we can bring together the Polish and U.S. armies, it’s something I look forward to. The mission was easily a success, but I think the bigger success was the stronger partnership we formed.”

The supply mission allows each military to become familiarized with each other’s standard practices and see how different foreign vehicles operate.

“The mission was an opportunity for us to learn from the Polish and for them to learn from us,” said Sgt. Joseph Dongmo, the convoy commander for the March 24 trip from Skwierzyna to Zagan and Boleslawiec, where 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. units have conducted operations alongside the Polish.

“We owe the success of this mission to the technical expertise and high level of professionalism displayed by both armies,” Dongmo said.

The Soldiers hope for more combined missions.

“I would like more common missions so that Polish soldiers will know the nature of the work of the U.S. Army,” said Senior Cpl. Marek Kulicki, the senior noncommissioned officer on the convoy from the 35th Skwierzyna Air Defense Missile Squadron. “More joint action will result in greater respect and bonding of fraternity.”

The 3rd ABCT Soldiers are deployed in eastern Euurope in support of Atlantic Resolve, the U.S. Army commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies and partners. During a 9-month rotation, the brigade will complete a series of bilateral and multilateral training engagements aimed at strengthening collective defense and cooperative security.

• Date Taken: 04.03.2017
• Date Posted: 04.10.2017 20:56
• Story ID: 229902
• Location: SKWIERZYNA, PL