KONOTOP, Poland – The suspension of the Polish and U.S. flags between two backhoe loaders provided the final setting of the projects conducted by the two countries during the Resolute Castle 2018 closing ceremony at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area in Konotop, Poland, Aug. 27, 2018.
The ceremony marked the end of the multinational, joint training exercise in Poland for U.S. Army and NATO engineers in support of Atlantic Resolve, but not the partnerships
that were built along the way.
Resolute Castle 18, a six-month exercise supported by the South Carolina National Guard, focused on building and reinforcing training areas throughout Poland and Romania. For the duration in Poland, nine U.S. Army National Guard engineer units from five states, Navy Seabees, and British army engineers assigned to the 75th Engineer Regiment focused on building and reinforcing the Drawsko Pomorskie training areas during back-to-back three-week training rotations.
“I am incredibly proud of our staff that has worked tirelessly,” said Maj. Jason Rolling, the task force commander of the 107th Engineer Battalion, Michigan Army National Guard, who served as the officer-in-charge of the DPTA engineer missions. “The Soldiers from the U.S. and the U.K. have poured their heart into this mission, and our Polish partners have selflessly assisted along the way.”
This year marked the first year that U.S. Army Europe partnered with Poland for the Resolute Castle mission. This mission enables U.S. units to assemble forces quickly, conduct rotational exercises alongside their multinational counterparts, and demonstrate deterrence while in a complex security environment.
“The main objective of the exercise conducted by the U.S., British and Polish soldiers was the extension and enhancement of DPTA as well as customizing it to foreign and Polish requirements,” said Col. Marek Gmurski, the commander of the 5th Engineer Regiment, Polish Land Forces. “I am very proud that this objective has been accomplished.”
Units under the direction of the 107th EN BN completed a 350-meter moving armored target range, a forward arming and refueling point, installed tank turn pads for tank ranges, and constructed DPTA road repairs. Two engineer projects still under construction include two concrete masonry unit buildings and power distribution centers for the range operation control areas.
“Thank you for the generosity and hospitality your country has demonstrated over the past year,” said Rolling during his remarks at the ceremony. “It has been an honor to serve beside you and we look forward to the future as dedicated allies.”