The training began with the movement by road march of the forces and equipment taking part in the exercise to the field training centre, starting in the early morning hours of 14 September. After reaching the designated area, the acting deputy commander of the 23pa, Lt. Col. Remigiusz Zieliński, presented the course and main objectives of the field training. After representatives of the training area command had discussed safety conditions, the artillerymen began carrying out their tasks.
The field-training plan, which was one of the elements preparing the artillerymen to participate in the Dragon-15 tactical-special exercise at the Orzysz training area, included a number of tactical, combat and specialist training activities. These focused on improving the performance of command-post crews, firing units and personnel of support subunits.
As part of specialist training in combat operations using equipment, soldiers of the 3rd Rocket Artillery Squadron (WR-40 Langusta) improved the performance of crews, teams and sections in preparation for artillery firing with live ammunition. This was carried out the following day as part of the Ulewa-15 Fire Control Training, conducted by the acting commander of the 3rd Rocket Artillery Squadron, Maj. Piotr Kobyłecki (acting commander).
At the same time, the subunits of the command squadron and logistics battalion carried out their own training activities. The command squadron trained its communications, reconnaissance and command subunits, conducting specialist and tactical training. In addition to providing technical support for the regiment’s training subunits, the logistics subunits carried out their own tactical-specialist and combat training activities.
Forty NSR soldiers taking part in rotational military training as part of their assigned crisis positions participated in the field training. It was another stage in improving their individual skills and an opportunity to integrate them into teams and squads.
The field training culminated in the regiment’s Błyskawica-15 Fire Control Test, conducted on 17–18 September. The training was led by Lt. Col. Remigiusz Zieliński, who tested the readiness of the 3rd Rocket Artillery Squadron for the Dragon-15 tactical exercise with troops. Maj. Szymon Czerwiński directed the work of the 23pa Command Post crew. The participating subunits received good and very good ratings in live-fire exercises, while the commanders were able to assess the current level and capabilities of their subordinates in action.
The pace of training left the soldiers little time to rest, as in the early morning hours of 19 September they moved to the area of the military railway siding in Pstrąż. Another element of preparing the artillerymen for the exercise, scheduled for October at the Orzysz training area more than 600 kilometres away, was training in the rules and conditions for transporting equipment by rail. To move equipment and soldiers efficiently and safely, it is essential to know occupational health and safety regulations, loading and unloading procedures, and the proper securing of transported property.
The training, attended by the commander of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Col. Paweł Świtalski, was conducted by the transport commander, the acting commander of the 3rd Rocket Artillery Squadron, Maj. Piotr Kobyłecki, and the acting head of the Military Transport Delegation in Żagań, 2nd Lt. Dawid Andrzejczuk. After the trainees had been thoroughly familiarised with health and safety rules during loading and unloading operations, as well as with the duties and tasks of designated personnel, a practical demonstration was held showing the loading of passenger-and-terrain vehicles, trucks and WR-40 Langusta launchers. During this part of the training, the rules for positioning and securing vehicles on railway platforms were discussed in detail to prevent any uncontrolled change in the vehicles’ position during transport.
The field training of the 23rd Artillery Regiment’s subunits ended on 19 September with a road march to the permanent deployment area, from where, after a brief equipment inspection, they will begin redeploying to the OSPWL Orzysz in just a few days.
Capt. Remigiusz Kwieciński