Photo By Bethany Huff | Command Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Romar, incoming U.S. Army Garrison Poland senior enlisted...... read more read more
CAMP KOSCIUSZKO, Poland – Garrison successes and new rules for school age dependents tours highlighted and celebrated during the change of responsibility ceremony, Nov. 21., held at Camp Kościuszko.
The traditional passing of the garrison colors welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Romar as the new senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Army Garrison Poland and honored Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Jones.
“The groundwork that this garrison has laid out this past year, really improved basic things like quality-of-life services and food services,” Romar said who previously served in Poland during other rotational missions. “It really enhances, operationally, what we do as Soldiers when we come over here and help guard that Eastern Flank with our Polish partners.”
Romar thanked Jones for leaving behind what he called a strong foundation for the next stage of USAG Poland’s growth and added that he looks forward to serving Soldiers, civilians and tenant units “across all of our sites.”
Jones, who helped guide improvements across the 12 garrison installation sites, said the progress of the past year came from teamwork. “I have not accomplished anything. The team, the garrison, has done a lot, and it was an absolute privilege to be a part of it,” he said.
One of the most notable developments of the year was the approval of school-age dependents for select key billets in Poznan, allowing families to join service members in Poland for the first time.
Jones said the family policy change followed detailed assessments of schools, medical access and host nation support. “There is an opportunity for families to be here, and they can be supported,” he said. “We submitted the request and looked at all the facts, and it went all the way up to the Pentagon for approval.”
The Pentagon then released an exception to policy this past July, allowing families to move with service members. Romar, who was slated for a 12-month tour without his family, jumped on the opportunity to bring his family.
“That ETP was approved in July, and immediately, I made the decision to do that 24-month tour,” he said. “This is a destination of choice for me, and it’ll be a great opportunity for my family.”
Among the speeches during the ceremony, quality of life improvements were a central theme of Jones’s remarks. He described the opening of the Army’s newest Army Emergency Relief section, the launch of a USO expeditionary center at Głębokie and the establishment of a fully stocked lending closet to support incoming families. Many of these initiatives relied on coordination with Polish partners under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
“Their commitment to making our Soldiers’ experience in their beautiful country a remarkable one is astonishing,” Jones said.
The ceremony highlighted the garrison’s partnership with the Republic of Poland. Earlier this year, USAG Poland and the Republic of Poland received the Army’s Community Partnership Award, the first time a U.S. garrison and host nation team have been recognized together.
Jones called the award “a testament to the commitment that the Republic of Poland has in wanting us to be here and supporting us.”
As the ceremony ended, Romar told the formation he is ready to continue the momentum set by the team he is joining. “USAG Poland is growing into a permanent home for our Army in the region,” said Romar. “I am excited for what we will accomplish together.”
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2025 10:40 |
| Story ID: | 552018 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 8 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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