TRZEBIEN, Poland – Soldiers of Company D, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division joined forces with Polish soldiers assigned to the 11th Lubuska Armoured Cavalry Division, to conduct a live-fire exercise in Trzebien, Poland, July 19, 2016.
The exercise fostered interoperability between U.S. and Polish forces as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and enduring peace and stability in the region.
“The exercise demonstrated the ability of our two armies to work together in defensive operations,” said 1st Lt. Brett Lamarca, executive officer of D Co., 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt.
D Co., “Dark Knights” had the unique opportunity to fire Javelin anti-tank missiles and M136 AT4 anti-tank weapons during the exercise while Polish Leopard tank crews assigned to the 11th Lubuska Armoured Cavalry Division provided support by fire assets.
“The exercise was an example of U.S infantry forces coming into contact with a vehicle-mounted threat, trucks, and light armor, and then engaging those targets with anti-tank systems,” said Lamarca. “While engaging those targets, soldiers requested assistance from a Polish platoon to come in and reinforce their position.”
Capt. Colin Baggs, commander of D Co., and Lamarca, hosted Maj. Gen. Jaroslaw Mika, commander of the 11th Lubuska Armoured Cavalry Division, Polish army, as well as professional staff members including Will Todd and Colleen Gaydos from the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense is responsible for overseeing training expenditures of U.S. forces within the European Reassurance Initiative, a continued effort to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and territorial integrity of NATO allies. During their visit, the delegation conducted a site survey and viewed training, seeing firsthand how the U.S. soldiers are able to establish a defensive training posture alongside their Polish counterparts.
The event concluded with a luncheon, bringing together distinguished visitors, senior leaders and soldiers from both the U.S. and Polish armies.