Photo By Pvt. Joanna Gaona Gomez | The host of the 1st Infantry Division (Forward) unveiling ceremony introduces the...... read more read more
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One hundred Soldiers U.S. and Polish Armies gathered to celebrate the historic moment when U.S. and Polish dignitaries announced the continued presence of U.S. troops with the designation of a forward deployed division headquarters.
Those present included numerous high ranking officials from both countries, but the most notable were the key note speakers, the Minister of National Defense of Poland, Mariusz Błaszczak, U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher and Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe for Army National Guard, Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard. Each of them came together to celebrate the official change of First Infantry Division Mission Command Element to First Infantry Division (Forward), signifying the United States increased military presence in Poland on Oct. 4, 2019, Poznan, Poland.
The celebration comes just two weeks after U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Poland President Andrzej Duda signed an agreement to increase U.S. presence in Poland. The agreement was signed September 23, 2019, in New York City on national television.
By celebrating the United States and Poland’s decision to increase the U.S. military presence in Poland, it reinforces the strong strategic partnership that the United States and Poland have built, especially in recent years.
“The inauguration of the U.S. division headquarters forward only a few days after the confirmation by both presidents shows the determination of Poland and the U.S. [to make] our defense cooperation even closer and stronger,” said the Minister of National Defense of Poland, Mariusz Błaszczak. “I can say with full certainty that our partnership with the United States of America has reached the next level and has never been stronger than it is currently.”
Earlier this year, Trump and Duda signed a declaration increasing the number of U.S. troops on rotation in Poland. The purpose of First Infantry Division Forward is to command the rotational forces coming through Poland and is also responsible for coordinating with Polish Armed Forces to identify opportunities to train and conduct exercises together.
“The importance of the ceremony today is to reinforce the relationship between the U.S. and Poland,” said Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard. “This solidifies that we are here to stay and will continue rotating troops through, because Poland is a great ally of ours and we will continue to partner with them to build capacities and to deter our potential adversaries.”
The ceremony concluded with the retiring of the National Colors and a meeting between Mosbacher, Błaszczak, Jarrard and U.S. Army Col. Phil Brooks, Commander of 1ID (FWD), as they said their goodbyes and presented each other commemorative plaques.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2019 09:57 |
| Story ID: | 346066 |
| Location: | POZNAN, PL |
| Web Views: | 1,061 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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