Wrocław–Strachowice, military airport, several minutes after three in the morning... The lights of a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft are becoming increasingly visible in the sky; moments later, it lands on the airport apron.
Soldiers of the 7th rotation of RSM (English: Resolute Support Mission) of the Polish Military Contingent (PKW) in Afghanistan have returned home. The mission was primarily made up of soldiers from the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Świętoszów. More than seventy of the approximately 230 soldiers serve daily in the Świętoszów unit. The others were assigned from military units of the Land Forces, Navy and Special Forces.
At Wrocław airport, the returning soldiers were welcomed by a delegation and the commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade. The ceremonial assembly began with a report submitted to the ceremony commander, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Wiese, and to the commander of the Świętoszów unit, Brigadier General Doctor Dariusz Parylak.
After the subunits had been inspected and the State Flag had been raised on the mast to the sound of the Anthem of the Republic of Poland, the commander of the 7th rotation of RSM PKW Afghanistan, Colonel Grzegorz Potrzuski, reported that the mandated tasks had been completed. As the contingent commander had announced before departure, the soldiers completed their assignment and returned to Poland in full strength after several months.
This was followed by the signing of the handover protocol for the 7th rotation of the PKW contingent assigned to NATO’s military operation Resolute Support Mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The protocol was signed by:
- on behalf of the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces – Head of the Joint Fires Branch – Deputy Head of the Operations Directorate – Colonel Piotr Siemiński
- on behalf of the General Commander of the Armed Forces – Commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade – Brigadier General Doctor Dariusz Parylak.
The brigade commander was the first to speak during the ceremonial assembly. The general addressed the soldiers with these words:
I thank the colonel, the contingent commander, and all of you for exemplary completion of the tasks assigned to you. For me, the most important task was ensuring that all of you returned to Poland. And that is exactly what has happened. Now each of you is already thinking ahead to meeting your family. As a commander who has also stood on the other side, I understand you perfectly.
In a moment, you will board vehicles and head to your homes. May today be the day you have waited for so long, a day spent with your loved ones. You carried out your tasks with dignity, as befits soldiers of the Polish Army. As befits cavalrymen—you completed them firmly, but in a chivalrous manner. For this, I sincerely thank every one of you.
I am convinced that the experience you gained over these several months will be useful to you during your further service.
“I have repeatedly emphasized that commanding the 7th rotation of RSM PKW Afghanistan was a great pleasure and a great honor for me. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank you for your effort, commitment and professionalism, which were appreciated both by our superiors at home and by our coalition partners. During the handover of duties, when I reported to the Operational Commander, General Wojciechowski said to me: ‘Very good work; tell everyone that I am proud of you.’ And I am proud of you too. I hope that our motto will accompany you in your further service. One must demand the most of oneself—these words guided us every day during the mission, and may they not leave you here at home either,” said PKW commander Colonel Grzegorz Potrzuski to the soldiers of the 7th rotation of Resolute Support Mission.
The assembly concluded with a parade of subunits led by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Wiese, accompanied by the Military Orchestra from Żagań. On that day, the honor guard was provided by the 10th Dragon Mechanized Battalion from the Świętoszów brigade.
The soldiers of the 7th rotation of the RSM Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan spent nearly seven months there. Now, after returning home, they will be able to spend time with their loved ones. After completing the required examinations, the soldiers will go on well-deserved leave. Each of them will try to make up for the time spent apart. Their loved ones will certainly have much to tell them.