Investment in soldiers

Often a fresh chief is expected to declare whether he will make extremist changes, or whether he will focus on maintaining the position quo. Which approach is yours?

History shows that the revolution does not lead to anything good. On the another hand, I believe that gradual but consistent changes in the armed forces are necessary. This is about evolution understood, among others, as changes aimed at adapting to fresh equipment and challenges. I am convinced that as soldiers, we cannot halt at what we have found. Especially since the dynamics of changes in the safety environment is huge. I will mention, for example, the outbreak of war in Ukraine or the migratory force from Belarus. If we don't adapt for this kind of condition, we will be left behind.

In this context, how do you view the war in Ukraine?

Of course, for the Ukrainians it is simply a tragedy for both individual and national purposes. This should be an chance for us to draw conclusions and implement concrete solutions. It's specified a test ground, not just for us, but for Europe as a whole. If we miss something now, we will not start utilizing the experience of the Ukrainian army, we will weaken the condition of our armed forces, which will translate into the safety of Poland.

Referring to history, I will mention an example of the 20th interwar anniversary erstwhile we, as a young state, did not keep up with changes in the method dimension in the army. We were prepared for a maneuvering war in the east, but we did not take into account the technological improvement of the 3rd Reich, so Blitzkrieg He amazed us. We can't afford to rerun history. We should follow closely the events in the East, analyse what kind of activities are carried out in Ukraine and what equipment is utilized there. In a word, we must draw conclusions and adapt to changing conditions.

What do you place the top emphasis on erstwhile you talk about adjusting?

Modern weapons are essential.But even the best equipment will be nothing if we don't have well prepared soldiers. After taking command of the brigade, I repeatedly told my subordinates that We invest in human developmentBecause the war equipment itself won't win.

Let's talk about specifics: what will change in the 15th Mechanized Brigade under your command? I've heard of plans to transform a self-propelled artillery squadron into a mixed artillery division.

The self-propelled artillery division will most likely hold its name, but will surely become an innovative squadron, consisting of 5 batteries. Now we have 3 cannonhaubic K9 batteries, plus 2 rocket artillery batteries. WR-40 Langusta. I'll point out that Langusty is definitely taking over this year. erstwhile our squadron is rewired with 2S1 Carnation cannon, whose maximum scope is just over 15,000 meters, we will have very large opportunities. For the record, modern K9 They endanger targets over a distance of 40 km, and Langusta can scope up to 70 km in the future. Although we do not have any ammunition to keep up with specified capabilities, this is shortly to change due to the fact that the work active is very advanced. surely a self-propelled artillery squadron will be 1 of the most modern in the armed forces. I would add that the squadron commander will have more troops under him than in many regiments. Therefore, we request to train more people with the service of fresh equipment, just as it does on K9.

What about the armored sub-units? We know they're getting to Giżycka. K2 Black Panther tanks, which already have another brigades of the 16th Division.

In this respect, we are undergoing a large change. My brigade owns PT-91 tanks, but by the end of the year 1 of the battalions will be full equipped with K2. It is worth noting that the armored or mechanized battalion presently has 58 wagons. In the mid-1990s, erstwhile I served in the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Braniewo, specified battalions had 30 wagons each. Now, at battalion level, we have twice as much fire power, and many times more range, the ability to conduct fire utilizing night vision, thermalisation. Comparing K2 with PT-91, we can talk about a truly large technological leap.. any of the crews have already been trained, but we will proceed to invest in training to rise the qualifications of soldiers so that they can make full usage of the capabilities of modern equipment.

And how has the kind of threat to which the battleships must be prepared changed over the past 30 years?

There have besides been major changes in this area. erstwhile the main challenge for the armored troops was directed armor-piercing missiles or overhead mines. Today's the biggest attention is focused on drones. It is surely equipment that forces us to change our reasoning and perception of danger. Let me give you an example. The issue, which has always been of interest to builders and soldiers, was the thickness of the armor of the car, due to the fact that the safety of crews depended on it. However, the appearance on the drone battlefield has shown that expanding armor thickness is not always the best solution. This is due to the fact that the vehicle becomes much heavier, so it loses its maneuverability. The experience of Ukrainians shows, in the field it can “catch up” and destruct even a small, comparatively inexpensive unmanned. specified realities of the modern battlefield make us request to look for fresh solutions. I believe that 1 of the most crucial challenges facing us as armed forces is the improvement of appropriate techniques against drones.

A while ago, I was looking. training your soldiers with reconnaissance and offensive microdronsYou besides have an Orbiter-2B reconnaissance platform in place. What future awaits the unmanned 15 GBZ?

I late participated in the briefing of the Chief of General Staff, who announced, "drone at all levels of tactical level command". This means that drones are to be widely deployed to the armed forces. As a brigade, I would like us to have the ability not only to counter the drones, but besides to aid us identify drones. I'd like to see the impact drones at our end. For now, I cannot tell you precisely what platforms these will be, due to the fact that conceptual work is inactive going on. But I can assure you, our soldiers are already training in this direction. Practically all the reconnaissance company soldiers have a peculiar course in handling micro-class drones, and by the end of June we are to have trained full subunits.

Tanks, cannons, drones. What else is fresh in the close future?

This year I will be the first in the armed forces to have an full company equipped with Badger infantry wagons, considered the best vehicles of this kind in the world. We've already got a twelve trained crews and now we're waiting for the wagons to be here and we'll start preparing more troops. I repeat that as a commander I want to invest in the improvement of soldiers – from private to battalion commanders. The training resulting from the implementation of the fresh equipment, which will replace PT-91, BWP-1, 2S1 Wździk, is in my opinion the biggest challenge for the brigade commander.

Why?

The acquisition of fresh hardware skills is 1 thing, but in this process we gotta go back to the beginning. Start with squad training, crew, only later comes the play of plutonium, company, battalion. It will be a long-term process, but our soldiers are well prepared and experienced adequate that everything will surely go smoothly. It is crucial to remember that erstwhile fresh equipment appears, the policy of action mostly does not change. The rules of war art are constant. It is crucial to be able to make the most of modern equipment and be 1 step ahead of your opponent.

Is participation in the operation "Safe Floors" Is it a challenge for 15 GBZ?

I can confirm that at the end of October as a brigade we will presume work for the Task Force Center. Our area of work will cover the area between the towns of: Hajnówka, Dobczyce, Dubicze Cerkiwe. Operation Safe Podlasie will surely be a large effort for the brigade, due to the fact that we send about 2,000 people there. This group will include many experienced soldiers who have already served on the border. For others, this will be the first specified challenge. But everyone will be well prepared. We are inactive conducting training in the brigade aimed at tasks that are carried out at the border.

Taking command of the Gigada brigade is for you to return to the 16th Division after almost 30 years. How do you callback your beginnings in the Amber Division?

After graduating from the Higher Officers' School in 1995, I was briefly directed to the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Braniewo, which falls under the 16th Division. First I became a platoon commander mechanized, then a company commander. I must say, the service at 9 BKPanc was demanding. Like today's 15 GBZ, the Bravna brigade was the most developed branch in the armed forces and most likely the most numerous. It was a first-time usage brigade, full developed, located very close to the royal circuit. At the time, we joked that the largest city for the brigade was Rabbit. In Braniewa, I went to a real school of life and command. Nota bene, together with General Jarosław Górowski, commander of the Multinational North-East Division, were in Braniewo company commanders in 1 mechanized battalion.

Your career was besides connected with the global environment.

After the National Defence Academy, I didn't return to Braniew. For respective years I served in the Command of the Land Forces, but I was besides the head of Operations Department V of PKW Iraq's changes, I served in global structures at JFC Brunssum, and was later assigned to the General Command of Types of Armed Forces. I spent the last fewer years at the Center for Land Operations – Command of Land Component as Chief of Staff. I'm not hiding that I erstwhile wanted to go back to the 16th Division, but I didn't have it in my coming plans. My superiors amazed me, which I'm very pleased with.

What's your biggest plus?

I am pleased to be able to return to the largest and most dynamic division in the armed forces. Commanding a brigade operating in a delicate area is simply a challenge, but it is simply a origin of large satisfaction.