Mieczysław Romanowski is proud to serve in the 23rd Silesian Artillery Brigade, whose garrison is located in our city. In his opinion, "this mission is different from the previous one. At present, I pay more attention to issues concerning our safety." Romanowski is one of those supporting the 11th Command Battalion from Żagań. The command and security company consists mostly of soldiers from this battalion.
Some of the Żagań soldiers were also in Iraq in 2005. They provide the command and staff of the Multinational Division Central-South with efficient command of the division's subunits. On a daily basis, they perform tasks primarily related to communications. They are responsible for communications both with the home country and with patrols and convoys in Iraq. They supervise the operation of telecommunications infrastructure and operate telephone exchanges. Thanks to them, Polish soldiers stationed in Iraq can contact their families at home. As Staff Sergeant Mariusz Czekan said, "Every Polish soldier can send letters and postcards to Poland."
Once a day, soldiers can call both a landline number and a mobile phone. Captain Krystian Salamon is among those responsible for communications with the home country. Senior Corporal Mariusz Łażewski is responsible for communications with patrols and convoys: "My job consists of monitoring radio communications so that, in the event of information about an attack on a Polish convoy or other coalition forces' soldiers, I can notify medical evacuation services and rapid-response teams."
The soldiers rate the conditions positively. As Lieutenant Zbigniew Zalewski said, "The food and beverages are of a very good standard; the only thing missing is our Polish taste." Several of them serve at Delta Base in Kut, located 120 km from Echo Base in Diwaniyah.
However, life is not all about service. Polish soldiers relax in the gym. Senior Warrant Officer Tomasz Hrydziuszko, the radio station commander, said: "It would be good if every city in Poland had such a gym. A considerable number of stationary treadmills is very useful for maintaining physical fitness." Unfortunately, the soldiers cannot complain about having too much entertainment. "There is only work, and there is plenty of it; however, the time spent on combat duty passes quickly, and with every moment the day of returning to our loved ones draws nearer," said Captain Bartłomiej Terebiński, commander of the command and security company.
Each year, around 30 soldiers of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Brigade participate in Polish Military Contingents. Artillerymen from Bolesławiec have been stationed, among other places, in Iraq, Kosovo, Syria and Afghanistan.
(information from Marek Zieliński, press spokesperson for the Multinational Division Central-South/GA)