Another Polish general has succeeded to the role of the deputy commanding officer of the ‘V Corps’ of the US Army, based in Poznań, in western Poland.
The Polish Major General Jabloński has taken over the responsibilities from Major General Joks. It is a historic second time when Polish officer takes over such an important and prestigious post.
V Corps is an important military unit since its forward element deployed in Poznań commands all US forces on the Nato’s eastern flank.
The responsibilities general Jabloński takes predominantly encompass situational awareness of the US forces on the eastern flank. But with regards to the Polish Armed Forces, they also include introducing Abrams tanks into Polish service, the Polish Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak, stated at the handover ceremony in the V Corps Command on 18 July.
This takeover follows the arrival of the first permanently assigned US soldiers to operate from Poland, in March this year.
“The presence of US troops in Poland, especially those of the V Corps is of particular importance for us. We invest in the infrastructure for the US forces so as to create better conditions for their stationing in Poland. I am very glad that Camp Kościuszko became home of the V Corps Forward Command dislocated permanently in Poland.
“I see with satisfaction how it grows and strengthens its capabilities. Increased readiness and capabilities of the American forces to take over the command of allocated units deters a potential opponent. I am convinced that this success would not have been possible without professional leadership,” Blaszczak stated.
US-Polish army integration
The V Corps is just one way both nations have integrated their armed services.
This takeover of command follows a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement, in which Poland purchased a distributed intercative simulation-based systems integration laboratory from the US Department of Defense (DoD) in June this year.
The simulation laboratory will allow the Polish Armed Forces, alongside its US partner, to test and verify components that can be used in different weapon systems. Integrating modular components with partners will save money by avoiding the costs of custom components.
But notably, this facility marks a stronger relationship with the US as the DoD can more easily maintain and sustain Poland’s similar weapon systems closer to the invading Russian forces in the south and east of Ukraine. It will also ensure that both countries keep pace with integrating emerging technologies to their systems.
