Photo By Sgt. Lisa Vines | Soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, deployed...... read more read more
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SWIETOSZOW, Poland - Soldiers from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, deployed across western Poland, mustered together to learn about Poland’s history and culture at the Military Center of Civic Education in Swietoszow, Poland, July 12, 2018.
This year marks the 100th year of Poland’s independence since the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War. The armistice led to Poland returning to the map after 123 years of partitions. The Polish military celebrated this in part by sharing their history of the past 1000th years.
“It’s important for our Soldiers to understand the history of the countries in which we serve and the perspective of the people,” said Command Sgt. Maj. James Light, the senior enlisted leader for the 1st ABCT, 1st CD.
The presentation was lively. A music video of Sabaton, a European heavy metal band, performing a song about a historic Polish and German battle, the Battle of Wizna, was shown, making it unlike a typical PowerPoint presentation Soldiers are used to.
“It’s a good opportunity to get everyone a chance to learn something about a different place because not a lot of people have ever been overseas,” said Army Cpl. Courtney Britton, an intelligence analyst for 1st ABCT, 1st CD. “It’s eye-opening for me.”
The session gave the Ironhorse Soldiers an opportunity to think about the character of the country and their personal experiences so far.
“It really struck me, the toughness and resilience of the Polish people with all they’ve had to do over the past 1000 years,” said Light. “In the last 29 years into being a free nation, they’re a part of NATO and a very close ally with the United States now.”
In 1989, 29 years ago, Polish gained political freedom by ending more than 40 years of Communist rule.
In addition to exploring the history of Poland, Soldiers discussed how it feels for them to be outside their comfort zone of home; the melting pot of the United States.
“It’s different,” said Britton. “I get stared at, obviously because of my skin tone. They stare at us more because we’re American and they can tell.”
Although the local population isn’t accustomed to seeing different ethnic groups, other than European, they do not hold back a welcoming greeting.
“They try to speak English and say, ‘Hey, how are you doing,’” Britton said.
Soldiers of 1st ABCT, 1st CD are deployed across Europe as part of an assurance and deterrence training mission in support of Atlantic Resolve.
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2018 09:47 |
| Story ID: | 285069 |
| Location: | SWIETOSZOW, PL |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ironhorse Brigade Gets a History Lesson During Atlantic Resolve, by SGT Lisa Vines, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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