Photo By Brian Godette | Paratroopers from the U.S., Canadian and Polish armies stand in formation during an...... read more read more
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DRAWSKO-POMORSKIE, Poland - Allied paratroopers came together for a combined parachutist badge-exchange ceremony May 26 following a series of airborne operations and training near Drawsko-Pomorskie, Poland.
Paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, Canada’s Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and Poland’s 6th Airborne Brigade have been training together for over a month. The ceremony, held on the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, marked the completion of a series of airborne operations led by jumpmasters from each nation.
The 173rd Airborne, based out of Vicenza, Italy, serves as the Army Contingency Response Force for Europe. The 173rd has been training in the region with their NATO allies, such as Poland and Canada, to sustain interoperability between military forces and demonstrate commitment to collective defense in the alliance.
Through these recent exercises, the three nations’ forces have shared techniques, tactics and best practices while jumping from military aircraft, firing on weapons ranges, and gaining a deeper appreciation for one another’s culture.
“To get foreign wings in a paratroopers’ career is very special,” said 1st Sgt. Eladio Velasquez, the senior noncommissioned officer with Chosen Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Abn. Bde. “It’s pretty much a goal for any paratrooper to achieve.”
The formal ceremony began with the units in formation on the Polish military training post. The paratroopers’ distinct maroon berets – an international symbol for airborne forces – stood out in a sea of soldiers in various uniforms.
Row by row, the soldiers moved to the front of the formations to formally receive their allies’ jump wings. Americans pinned Canadians, Canadians pinned Polish, Polish pinned Americans, and vice versa.
“From my experience, it’s very rare to get two foreign jump wings in one day,” said Velasquez.
While the wing exchange ceremony marked a milestone for many soldiers, the badges themselves were not the training’s only benefit, said Pvt. Justin Klouse, one of the Canadian paratroopers training in Poland.
“I’m getting worlds of experience training with all different nations, ranks and experiences people have had,” Klouse said. “It’s been a unique experience and countless on all the benefits I’ve gotten.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2014 15:13 |
| Story ID: | 131762 |
| Location: | DRAWSKO-POMORSKIE, PL |
| Web Views: | 561 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Paratroopers from three nations exchange wings in Poland, by Brian Godette, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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