soldiers are moving out of tents and into new barracks this month as part of a broader effort by Poland to upgrade facilities for American troops across the country The Polish-built barracks at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in the country’s northwest can accommodate more than 1,700 soldiers About 1,000 troops are scheduled to move in by the end of the month The new arrangements provide a better living standard and a morale boost “We’re setting the conditions for a long-lasting and permanent relationship with our Polish allies,” Latham said The Army has been rotating tank brigades and other units through Poland and other locations along NATO’s eastern flank ever since Russia’s initial attack on Ukraine in 2014 The rotations increased following Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine Warsaw has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years to enhance military training grounds and housing facilities The projects are part of a bilateral security agreement that requires Poland to pick up a large amount of the infrastructure costs needed to support U.S troops in Poland into barracks and buildings by the end of the year Deployments over the years to Poland have involved getting by in austere conditions that has meant tents and temporary shower facilities the barracks provide soldiers with better heating and air conditioning as well as “more space to call their own,” the V Corps statement said The accommodations house six soldiers apiece and provide more privacy than the previous open-bay style tents quality of life impacts (combat) readiness,” said Command Sgt the senior enlisted advisor of 3rd Brigade One of the largest ongoing projects in Poland involves a $93 million initiative to build new Army barracks and a dining facility at a base in Powidz which has emerged as a major aviation and logistical hub for the U.S along with Warsaw’s status as NATO’s biggest defense spender as a percentage of its gross domestic product have elevated Poland’s stature in the alliance This work, Soldier Honored by 456 MCAS with Impromptu Commencement Ceremony During Defender 22, by SGT Tara Fajardo Arteaga, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright will give Poland another $2 billion loan to buy American weapons the second time in less than a year that a State Department loan program has been used to aid the Polish armed forces’ modernization Foreign Military Financing direct loans are rare and reserved for the United States’ most important security cooperation partners said a Monday statement from the State Department when Poland’s first such $2 billion loan was approved the last time the State Department had done so was in 2017 when it awarded a Foreign Military Financing loan to Iraq has agreed to provide up to $60 million in foreign military financing to subsidize the interest cost of the latest loan which will help accelerate the procurement process The new loan will be used to buy American air and missile defense systems Poland’s Defense Ministry said in a statement last week Some 10,000 American troops are serving in Poland which has taken on growing significance as NATO counters Russian aggression in neighboring Ukraine giving Poland its first permanent American military outpost Polish leaders have branded Russia an existential threat and in recent years have approved the spending of billions of dollars to boost the country’s military capabilities The modernization has included purchases of American F-35 airplanes Patriot missile systems and Abrams main battle tanks and this deal will further strengthen NATO’s eastern flank,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday The country currently spends 4% of its gross domestic product on defense “The United States remains our main foreign partner in the modernization of the Polish armed forces,” the Defense Ministry statement said This work, US and Polish allies hold marksmanship competition at Drawsko 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https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Travel to the United States on a temporary basis For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the U.S The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries* to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S that you will not find anywhere else in the world Find the closest American Space in Poland where you can connect with the U.S some with offices in the Embassy and some throughout the country visited Poland’s premier military training center in Drawsko Pomorskie LTG Hodges’ visit to the training area was a part of the Key Leader Theater Sustainment Terrain Walk the General Commander of Polish Armed Forces The Sustainment Terrain Walk provides an opportunity for the leadership of USAREUR as well as NATO countries and other regional partners to assess the capabilities of several key logistics nodes throughout Europe which may be used to support future NATO and partner nation operations Highly visible in the expert group were more than 20 senior noncomissioned officers side by side with their officer counterparts providing their expert insights on theater sustainment and how to maximize opportunities for junior leaders to solve sustainment challenges The Sustainment Terrain Walk across Germany and is conducted as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve and preparations for next year’s Anakonda-16 exercise By | 4 September, 2015 | Topics: News We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience This work, Polish-American Heritage Month: Sgt. 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Hodges: U.S. Army Europe needs reserve components to be successful, by SSG Dennis Glass, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Allies with German-made Leopard battle tanks are welcome to start training the Ukrainian military to use them Germany’s top defense official said Tuesday Berlin is inching toward a decision on sending its own Leopards to Ukraine His comments further eased concerns that Germany might block allies from sending their Leopard tanks to Ukraine German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Germany would not stand in the way of other allies’ intentions to dispatch their Leopards to Ukraine Weapons contracts often contain language barring re-export without consent from the nation providing them Pistorius said NATO partner countries that have the German tanks can start training Ukrainian crews if they want to and if they have the possibility to start on these Leopards if they wish to do so,” Pistorius said Speaking at a news conference in Berlin alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg he sought to downplay the notion that Germany’s hesitation on sending its own Leopards to Ukraine had caused a rift within the alliance according to a live NATO English translation He confirmed that no final decision has been made on the tank issue but added that it could be made soon German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has come under heavy criticism from some allies and in parts of his own government They say he is moving too slowly on the issue Allies such as Poland have lashed out at Germany’s position and its initial opposition to other NATO members sending their own German-made tanks The Polish government indicated last week that it was prepared to flout any requirements for German approval to export Leopards for use in the Russia-Ukraine war The situation has resulted in a growing perception in parts of NATO that despite having sent a wide range of other weaponry to Ukraine Germany is an unreliable supporter of Kyiv when asked whether the negative perception is a result of Scholz’s failure to communicate Berlin’s position effectively “It is not my place to criticize the chancellor’s choice of words or style of communication,” he said Stoltenberg said he had discussed Leopard deliveries with Pistorius and he talked up Germany’s contributions thus far “Germany is among the allies providing the most military financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said highlighting contributions such as the Gepard air defense system and a recent pledge to deliver advanced Patriot air defense systems and modern infantry fighting vehicles and other NATO members continue to send billions in military hardware to Ukraine we must provide heavier and more advanced systems to Ukraine This work, 3rd Infantry Divison Tank Breach [Image 10 of 10], by SSG Evan Ruchotzke, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright This work, Anakonda 16 officially kicks off in Poland, by LTC Randy Ready, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright This work, Shared Mission: 2ABCT 1AD Fosters International Ice Breaker, by SGT Trevares Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright This work, 3-29 FA, 4TH ID fires first 155mm rounds in Poland, by SSG Elizabeth Tarr, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This work, NATO allies conduct grenade training in Poland, by Brian Godette, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright - We have just had the opportunity to admire Polish and US soldiers who raise their skills shoulder to shoulder practicing here at the training ground in Drawsko Pomorskie which is proof of very close Polish-US cooperation - said Mariusz Błaszczak Minister of National Defence during his visit to the military training area in Drawsko Pomorskie at the Drawsko Land Forces Training Center the head of the Ministry of National Defence inaugurated the Polish-US DEFENDER Europe 20 Plus exercise in which participates nearly 6,000 Polish and US soldiers and around 2,000 pieces of equipment: tanks Exercise will last until June 18 this year - Poland's security is reinforced because of the activity of President Andrzej Duda The result of the two declarations he had signed is the formula of a permanent presence of US troops in Poland The result of these declarations is the fact that in Poland operates advanced command post of the US division the commander of the US division stationed in Poland Poland is safer because Polish-US relations are stronger and because President Andrzej Duda has strengthened these relations - emphasized Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak Minister Mariusz Błaszczak watched a joint training – US - Polish division-size river crossing - the main tactical episode initially planned as part of the main exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 Allied Spirit XI linked exercise River crossing with the participation of armored and airborne troops is exercised by soldiers the ability of Polish and US soldiers to cooperate as part of a joint combat operation will be tested at the level of participating brigades but the most important thing is that we were able to quickly adapt to changing circumstances The Polish Armed Forces has not lost its combat readiness for a moment and the presence of the United States troops in Poland at all times is proof of great confidence on the part of our US partner - added the head of the Ministry of Defence The main training force from the Polish Armed Forces is the 12th Mechanized Brigade from Szczecin as well as soldiers from the 6th Airborne Brigade from Krakow as well as from the 2nd Engineering Regiment 2nd Sapper Regiment and the 5th Engineering Regiment The exercise will also take part in the aviation component represented by F-16 aircraft from the 2nd Tactical Aviation Wing and Mi-24 helicopters from the 1st Land Forces Aviation Brigade 10 aircraft of the 3rd Transport Aviation Wing will also take part in the exercise we want to show that we are able to carry out this mission effectively we want to show that we are able to exercise during a pandemic and create safe conditions for exercising we want to prove not only that interoperability within different types of services is important but also that such exercises can be performed much better if we look at it from the point of view of an international undertaking - said during the observation of DEFENDER Europe 20 Plus episodes BG Brett Sylvia approximately 4,000 soldiers from the Advanced Command of the 1st Cavalry Division 3rd Infantry Division and the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade 7th Army Training Command and 21st Command Theater Support and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center participate in the exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 Plus is a modification of the initially planned exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 - the largest for 25 years division size forces in full combat readiness deployment from the United States to Europe It was planned to deploy 20,000 US soldiers The main goal of DEFENDER-Europe 20 before and after modification is to increase preparedness for crisis situations by checking not only the ability of the US army to quickly move large numbers of US soldiers and equipment but also checking the readiness of host countries to accept them At the time of the decision to modify this exercise and to stop moving equipment from the United States to Europe more than ninety percent of the equipment intended for DEFENDER-Europe 20 arrived from the United States by air or sea to Europe Taking advantage of the presence of already transferred troops and equipment that reached Poland - while maintaining all sanitary standards the modified Polish-US exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 Plus is carried out also increase the security of the eastern flank and serve to develop procedures for the use of troops against new challenges of modern battlefield and deter the potential aggressor >>> GALLERY - Polish-US military exercise DEFENDER - Europe 20 Plus has started A modified exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 Plus will be conducted from 5 to 19 June 100 tanks and over 230 combat vehicles will train at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area The joint decision of the Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense to carry out the active phase of the exercise was preceded by a thorough assessment of the situation and an effort of both planning teams will be carried out in accordance with all sanitary restrictions. DEFENDER-Europe 20 Plus is a mutual confirmation of excellent Polish-American relations capable and prepared to conduct operations and Polish soldiers will take part in the exercise.  Of those Soldiers will come from the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters (Forward); 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team 3rd Infantry Division; and 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade; and approximately 2 000 Polish Soldiers will come from the 6th Polish Airborne Brigade; 9th Polish Armored Calvary Brigade; and 12th Polish Mechanized Brigade The Polish Army supports the US soldiers every day by securing material and energy supplies and logistics as one of the main participants on the Polish side actively helps and secures the transport of allied equipment to the Drawsko training ground The main tasks planned for implementation during the exercise are consulted with the American side on a continuous basis to jointly perform assigned tasks to the best possible extent American troops conducted also training – first in small and then more complex groups of soldiers so that they could smoothly enter the training rhythm Then larger and larger units were trained - also with the use of heavy equipment and ammunition US soldiers got acquainted with Drawsko Pomorskie training area during tactical trainings and practical exercises conducted within US brigades but also together with Polish soldiers from the 12th Mechanized Brigade also taking part in the Defender-Europe 20 Plus exercise along with the soldiers of the 1st Engineering Battalion American soldiers strengthened roads within the training area which will significantly improve the mobility of all participating forces during the exercise in agreement with the Ministry of National Defense which was to be the largest deployment of forces from continental United States to Europe in 25 years around 4,000 soldiers and 1,550 units of equipment have reached the Polish training grounds The main goal of the exercise is to increase strategic readiness and interoperability stemming from the ability to quickly deploy troops across the Atlantic as well as to test the host nation support It must also be stressed that the logistical aspect of the exercise have already been tested and applied All allied exercises increase security of the eastern flank and serve to develop procedures for the effective use of troops against modern warfare challenges and deter the potential aggressors