Ill. Nat'l Guard and Poland Military Partner in Afghanistan

The Illinois National Guard and Polish Land Forces are part of a 20-year-long strategic partnership established to secure peace in embattled nations. On July 14 they celebrate the anniversary of their cooperative efforts, which for the last 10 years have been concentrated in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Illinois National Guardsmen and Polish Land Forces are part of the Bi-Lateral Embedded Staff Team. They're particular alliance was based on mutual interest and similarities, according to an Illinois National Guard press release.  

Polish heritage is key to military alliance   

"Chicago is the largest Polish city population, second only to Warsaw Poland." said Col. Christopher Lawson of Springfield, Ill., Deputy Commander of Task Force White Eagle in Ghazni, Afghanistan. "Our partnership was developed through mutual guidance from the European Command and the Polish Ministry of Defense to indoctrinate Polish Forces into NATO training standards, professionalize an all volunteer force, build expeditionary capacity, and enhance civil-military cooperation for domestic operations and support."

The Illinois National Guard and the Republic of Poland have successfully accomplished that goal. Illinois provided Polish forces with pre-deployment, peacekeeping training before missions to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. They delivered F-16 Falcon fighter jets and C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft; provided training on how to recruit volunteer Soldiers; and assisted in preparation for national security events like the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago and the 2012 EUROCUP in Poland. Illinois National Guard Soldiers have co-deployed with Polish forces on every deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"For 20 years Illinois Guardsmen have partnered with their Polish counterparts for domestic response exercises and preparations for war," said Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei, Illinois National Guard Adjutant General. "Our brotherhood of arms has been forged during our co-deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and while our partnership has received national praise, it's the personal relationships we truly value. The Soldiers and Airmen of the Polish Armed Forces have been and always will be part of this Illinois National Guard family."

Lawson said the partnership is what 21st century international stability looks like; partnered democracies from different beginnings helping other nations find peace, opportunity and freedom. It is a shared responsibility of the free world to help bring peace to struggling and embattled regions of the world and it is always better to assist with a friend, said Lawson.

In August, during Polish Land Forces Day in Warsaw, the Illinois National Guard and the Polish Land Forces will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their partnership.

Read more about the history of the military partnership on the Illinois National Guard readMedia website.

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