Exactly twenty years ago, in the city of Independence in the United States, Foreign Minister Bronisław Geremek handed the United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright the ratification document for the North Atlantic Treaty. At that time, the Czech Republic and Hungary were admitted to the Pact along with Poland.
10th Armored Cavalry Brigade:
Joining the group of North Atlantic Alliance states began the process of Poland’s genuine integration into the broadly understood Euro-Atlantic community. By offering security guarantees, it laid the foundation for future integration in successive dimensions: political and economic.
Twenty years of membership have built a sense of security and close cooperation with allies. The Alliance is a shared strength in the name of shared values.
To mark the anniversary falling on March 12, 2019, soldiers of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, employees of the Ministry of National Defence at the armored brigade, and soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment from the United States stood together at a parade formation.
Speaking on behalf of the commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade was the brigade’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Renart Skrzypczak:
Our country has a strong position in NATO. The presence of Polish soldiers in foreign missions conducted under the Alliance’s flag is a clear signal that we care about security at the regional and global levels. The participation of Polish soldiers in military contingents is our tangible contribution to world security.
Polish soldiers, including soldiers of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, also take part in numerous international exercises and training sessions organized both at home and abroad. Each of these exercises is an excellent opportunity to improve our skills together with soldiers from allied countries, exchange experiences, and gain knowledge that all soldiers should possess. Every day, we strive to ensure that these most valuable principles—freedom and democracy—become the share of every one of us, members of the community called NATO.
The presence of American soldiers here, in Świętoszów, is a consequence of the documents signed twenty years ago. The fact that we now train together on the Tactical Track and at the firing ranges began in 1999 in the United States. As a result, Polish and American soldiers cooperate with one another, putting the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty into practice every day.
On this exceptional day, on behalf of the commander and senior superiors, I thank you, soldiers, for contributing through your daily service to strengthening the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Today, when thinking about NATO, we must not forget that we are an important part of it. I wish us all that the Alliance may grow stronger, because a strong Alliance means security for all member states.
The brigade’s ceremonial parade concluded with a march-past by Polish and American soldiers, observed from the reviewing stand by their commanders.