Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza | U.S. Army Pfc. Moreno Chi, a member of 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, Battle...... read more read more
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BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland — As evidence of the United States’ continued commitment to the NATO alliance and Poland, the California Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment officially took the helm of Battle Group Poland (BGP) Feb. 11, 2022 during a hand over, take over (HOTO) ceremony here.
The 185th becomes the tenth consecutive BGP command unit since the battle group was created in 2017. The unit employs more than 1,000 troops from the U.S., Great Britain, Romania, Croatia and Poland, with California Guardsmen but supported strongly with Oregon and Washington Guardsmen.
“Our intent is to continue serving Poland and to continue the United States’ responsibilities to NATO and our partner nations,” said Lt. Col. Trevor Phillips, incoming BGP commander. “With me are hundreds of American men and women, each bred with traditional American concepts and values that no nation should ever stand alone when its ideals and principles face challenges.
“Together with our international team members, we will overcome any challenges put before us.”
The 185th will operate as Task Force Thunderbolt. It relieves 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment from the Washington National Guard.
Since arriving in Poland late January, the 185th continues adapting to its Eastern Poland location while regularly monitoring issues that affect regions surrounding Poland. Task Force Thunderbolt continues organizing training scenarios within the battle group, and has hundreds of vast forest-filled acreage via Poland’s assistance to conduct simulated warfare.
“First we offer friendship to our new communities,” Phillips explained. “We offer our working hands, our skills as fellow men and women, to nearby villages and neighborhoods to continue to build Battle Group Poland’s cooperative alliance with our local communities.”
The 185th’s journey started at it’s small San Bernadino, California, armory where it received its first mobilization warning order in 2020. The unit departed California in early January and held pre-mobilization preparedness at Fort Bliss, Texas, for several weeks.
“It’s an honor and privilege for us to serve this role, to be at the helm of Battle Group Poland,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Dalton, 185th senior enlisted advisor. “We’re more than capable of providing the assistance Poland and our NATO partners need.”
Per Dalton, the 185th’s last significant deployment was Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008-09.
“Our story, our chapter in this lifetime book starts now,” Phillips declared. “We have a tremendous responsibility to our friends and partners. We will not fail.”
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 02.21.2022 04:22 |
| Story ID: | 414554 |
| Location: | BEMOWO PISKIE, PL |
| Hometown: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 245 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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Republic of Poland (Poland)
