The farewell ceremony took place at the Świętoszów brigade and was preceded by a mass at the Garrison Church. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the military and local authorities, the General Command and the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, as well as the Military Police, Fire Service, and the relatives and friends of the soldiers being bid farewell. “The contingent is ready to carry out difficult tasks, while the soldiers’ effort, dedication and determination serve to build the authority of the Republic of Poland,” said the commander of the 11th Lubusz Armored Cavalry Division, Maj. Gen. Jarosław Mika. He also wished the participants of the second rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan, RSM, that soldiers’ luck would never leave them.
The core of the second rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan, RSM, consists of soldiers from the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade. The commander of the second rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan, RSM, is Colonel Adam Luzyńczyk from the training division of the 11th Lubusz Armored Cavalry Division in Żagań. Colonel Luzyńczyk served twice as part of the Polish Military Contingent in Kosovo and, among other things, commanded one of its rotations in 2012.
The readiness of the forces assigned to the second rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan, RSM, to conduct operations outside the country was verified and assessed during certification held in Świętoszów in the last days of April this year. During the three-day assessment, the soldiers had to demonstrate practical knowledge, familiarity with operational procedures and a high standard of task performance. The certification covered knowledge of and familiarity with legal regulations, cultural conditions, first-aid principles, and various procedures for situations that military personnel may encounter in the mission area.
The vast majority of the soldiers being bid farewell, standing in formation, have so-called mission experience—they have previously served on missions in Iraq, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Chad and Afghanistan.
“You promote our achievements and military craft in the international environment, while the red-and-white flag presented to you moments ago is a symbol of our statehood, sovereignty and independence. Under this flag, you will carry out tasks as part of the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan. These tasks are difficult and demanding, but the contingent is very well prepared to carry them out,” Brigadier General Stanisław Olszański of the General Command of the Armed Forces told the soldiers being bid farewell.
Since the beginning of 2015, at the invitation of the Afghan authorities, NATO forces have trained, advised and supported the Afghan security forces and helped develop the Afghan army’s combat capabilities as part of the new mission. During the RSM mission, Allied troops, including Polish forces, do not participate in combat operations. Under the agreement signed with the Afghan government, the mission is to continue until the end of 2016.