One might think that young people arriving from the capital at the green garrison located in the very middle of the Lower Silesian Forests would not be too pleased with spending their holidays in Świętoszów. There is no multiplex cinema, no shopping mall, no public transport—indeed, sometimes there is not even a mobile phone signal. However, anyone who suspected the recruits of complaining and being difficult would be mistaken.
The first day of training was very intensive for them. After the guests were welcomed by the commander of 10BKPanc, Colonel Maciej Jabłoński, the students visited the Tradition Hall. There, Lieutenant Rafał Romanowski, an officer in the brigade’s educational section, familiarized them with the history and traditions of the Świętoszów brigade and then presented the plan for the training prepared for the high school students at 10BKPanc facilities. Later that same day, the students took part in tactical training on the tactical exercise area, led by instructors from the mechanized battalion.
The real test of strength awaited the high school students on the second day, when live-fire training with instructors from the 1st Tank Battalion was scheduled. Completing the standard drills would not have posed much difficulty for the young recruits were it not for the time limit and the terrible heat. “They coped fairly well. During such training, it is easy to quickly assess who has what level of fitness and physical endurance. Some of the students performed very well, while others struggled more,” said Lieutenant Jacek Sobański, who led the training. “I must acknowledge one thing: they never lost their enthusiasm, not even for a moment. They ran out of strength, but not willingness.”
“It was hard. Some did not make it through, and there were injuries,” said Aneta Balko-Dębska, a military-class teacher. “But believe me, these are not weak young people. It was a major drama when someone had to be taken off the field to have their wounds treated. They cheated and lied, saying that nothing was wrong with them.”
During the following day, the high school students attended classes with soldiers from the reconnaissance company commanded by Second Lieutenant Adrian Karolczuk. One of the topics was field orientation combined with climbing, which the scouts had planned on the railway bridge in Pstrąże. Climbing and lowering oneself on a rope from the nearly five-metre-high bridge was not a task for anyone suffering from a fear of heights. Private Klaudia Jackiewicz was not one of them and completed the task without difficulty. “It was a piece of cake,” she said.
Friday, 4 July gave the young people an opportunity to take a close look at the vehicles in the brigade’s equipment. Armored soldiers from the 1st Tank Battalion presented the high school students with combat vehicles, command vehicles and other equipment. Then, in the repair hall, the students could talk with soldiers from the logistics battalion about the technical details of the brigade’s equipment. “The impression is incredible. You can examine the equipment and vehicles up close and go inside them. This opportunity really gives each of us a great deal of satisfaction,” said high school student Private Paweł Kruk. “This brigade is one of the few equipped with Leopards. I do not think we will soon have another opportunity to see such a tank up close.”
The final classes the recruits attended in Świętoszów were engineering and sapper training, led by soldiers from the sapper company under the command of Second Lieutenant Maciej Krepa, as well as communications tactics and protection against weapons of mass destruction, conducted by Lieutenant Piotr Kamieński and his soldiers.
Throughout the training, the main emphasis was placed on familiarizing students from the military classes with the scope of training in an armored brigade and with the physical and psychological requirements expected of candidates for professional military service. The training also gave the students an opportunity to see the army’s most modern combat, command, technical-support, repair and other equipment.
The steadily growing number of applicants to military classes shows that, despite contact with real and demanding military service, young people still wish to join the ranks of the armed forces.
“This year, 63 people came for the field training,” said Ms Aneta Balko-Dębska. “Next school year, we are creating three parallel classes with a military profile. We already have the municipality’s approval. Interest in this course is enormous, mainly thanks to the field training at the 10th Brigade. Last year, we had six applicants per place; this year, more than 10. And we are not the only high school in Warsaw that runs military classes.”
(information: Katarzyna Przepióra)