A ceremony attended by the supreme commander of the armed forces, President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski, was held at the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade in Świętoszów.
President Bronisław Komorowski thanked all the soldiers who served Poland in Afghanistan and paid tribute to those who died during their service. The President stressed that the return home of the last combat, XIV rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan was a good opportunity to express thanks – both to the soldiers who took part in this final combat mission and to all Polish soldiers who served in Afghanistan, strengthening Poland’s credibility as an ally, building a good reputation for the Polish armed forces, and working for the international community and for the North Atlantic Alliance.
During the ceremony, Bronisław Komorowski stressed that Poland’s goal is NATO’s return to its sources and foundations from the time when it was established and when we became members of the Alliance. He also noted that, for Poland, this exceptionally important foundation is Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. “Your service, as well as that of the previous contingents in Afghanistan, will be an important argument and asset for the Polish state, so that the approaching NATO summit in Wales will be a summit that confirms the importance and role of Article 5, which refers to the obligation to jointly defend the territories of the Alliance’s member countries, including our Polish territory,” the President said.
The XIV rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan comprised approximately 1,000 soldiers. The core of the rotation, which was the last to be stationed at the Polish base in Ghazni and then moved to the American base in Bagram, consisted of soldiers from the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade in Świętoszów. The remaining components were provided by the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade from Tomaszów Mazowiecki, the 10th Logistics Brigade from Opole, the 1st Land Forces Aviation Brigade from Inowrocław, the 9th Reconnaissance Regiment from Lidzbark Warmiński, the 4th Chemical Regiment from Brodnica, the Central Psychological Operations Group from Bydgoszcz, the 1st Military Field Hospital in Bydgoszcz, and military police officers from Mińsk Mazowiecki.
(commissioned information: www.janmichalski.eu; sources: Prezydent.pl, 10BKPanc, duw.pl)