On Monday, October 28 this year, a welcoming ceremony was held at the Ducal Palace in Żagań for soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2nd ABCT) of the United States Army, who will begin their service in Poland.
American soldiers serve in Żagań, Świętoszów, Skwierzyna and Bolesławiec. So far, four rotations of American soldiers have completed their nine-month deployments.
In Bolesławiec, soldiers from the US Army’s 2nd ABCT will join the 130 troops from Alpha Company, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (a communications battalion) from Fort Huachuca, Arizona, who have already been present in our city for several weeks – Editor’s note.
During Monday’s ceremony, the fourth rotation deployed by the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division completed its deployment. Thus, the fifth rotation, from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2nd ABCT) of the 1st Cavalry Division, will begin the mission.
During the ceremony, soldiers from the fourth ABCT rotation folded the unit’s colors to mark the end of their mission. Immediately afterward, soldiers from the fifth rotation of the 2nd ABCT “Black Jack” unfurled the colors of their subunits as a sign of readiness to carry out their tasks.
“Three years of cooperation with the ABCT are behind us. It is a permanent process and an excellent experience for both sides. This period is about integration; it is a process that makes it possible to turn previously acquired skills, procedures and training into the ability to act together and accomplish tasks. Today we can say that procedures are one thing, but there must be some common bridge—and that bridge is interoperability,” said Brigadier General Doctor Dariusz Parylak, deputy commander of the 11th Lubuska Armored Cavalry Division.
Monday’s event was held in accordance with the ceremonial traditions of the U.S. Army. The ceremony of unfurling and folding the colors has been observed since the U.S. Army was established in 1775. The colors symbolize the spirit of the United States military. They have witnessed glorious moments in the past and stand guard over the present; for soldiers, they symbolize loyalty, duty and courage.
“Ahead of us is a very difficult period of exercises and cooperation that will require strenuous work. I believe it will be an extremely productive time and bring mutual benefits. I am convinced that the 2nd ABCT ‘Black Jack,’ under my command, together with the soldiers of the 11th Lubuska Armored Cavalry Division, will be able not only to carry out its tasks. We are ready to accomplish the mission in any flashpoint anywhere in the world. We have the necessary resources and capabilities for this purpose,” said Colonel Paul Krattiger, commander of the 2nd ABCT.
The 2nd ABCT “Black Jack” consists of soldiers who have been part of the 1st Cavalry Division since 1971. The division is stationed at Fort Hood, a U.S. Army base located in central Texas.
The “Black Jack” Brigade was established on August 29, 1917, and is one of the best-known units in the United States. During World War II, the brigade fought in the Pacific, including in the Philippines, New Guinea and Japan. It later took part in military operations in Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia. In addition, the brigade participated in Operation Desert Storm and supported peace efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Information: Maj. Artur Pinkowski, 2nd Lt. Marta Wieliczko 11th Armored Cavalry Division.