10 June 2020

US 1st Cavalry Division establishes forward headquarters in Poland

The US Army's 1st Cavalry Division took over from the 1st Infantry Division as the formation providing a rotational division forward headquarters in Poznan, Poland, on 1 June. Answering a question from Janes during a phone briefing on 5 June, Brigadier General Brett Sylvia, the 1st Cavalry Division's deputy commanding general-manoeuvre, said, “What was formerly called the mission command element has since changed its name to the division forward mission, which is part of the ’Atlantic Resolve’ mission where we provide the higher headquarters for the rotational forces that come over into Europe.”

Polish troops prepare a bridge at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area on 8 June during exercise ‘Allied Spirit’.

The divisional headquarters (forward) is provided under a US-Polish defence co-operation agreement signed in June 2019, which also foresees more US troops rotating through Poland. The June and a follow-on September agreement also includes the combat training centre at Drawsko Pomorskie, US Army area support group at Poznan, US Air Force (USAF) aerial port of debarkation at Wroclaw-Strachowice, USAF remotely piloted aircraft squadron at Lask, combat aviation brigade and combat sustainment support battalion at Podwidz, and special forces facilities at Podwdiz and Lubliniec.

Colonel Kazimierz Dynski, deputy chief of staff and J3 division chief in the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces, said the presence of US troops on Polish soil provided a measurable sign of a dedication to Poland’s security, adding that it provided the opportunity to conduct common training. “Together with the US troops, we are increasing interoperability. We’re also conducting day-by-day training ... which is influencing our abilities to conduct future operations.”

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