The first course for soldiers serving M1A1 Abrams tanks, run exclusively by Polish instructors, began at the Training Centre of Land Forces in Poznań (CSWL). So far, military specialists from the United States have taught.
In fresh years, the Ministry of National Defence has twice ordered American Abrams tanks. First, in April 2022 a contract was signed for 250 machines in the latest version of M1A2 SEP v.3 with transportation dates in the years 2025-26, and later ordered 116 Abrams in the older variant M1A1 FEP. The second were completed at the end of June 2024.
Colonel Maciej Łukarski told PAP that on Monday at the Centre the first course for soldiers to operate M1A1 tanks was started. Our military specialists from the United States taught equipment handling earlier.
– That changes a lot at our local level, which is for CSWL. Now we can test our skills and how we have been preparing for the last 2 years to be full of cognition and skills as instructors. We run this course according to the program prepared by us, utilizing staff who had previously trained under Abrams Tank Training Academy – he said.
As he added, this next step gives the Polish army the chance to independently proceed tankers training. – Changing personnel in military units is natural. Nobody serves in 1 position forever. This forces the continuation of training for further tankers – he noted.
On Monday a 12-week course began a group of soldiers from the 18th Mechanized Division. A full of dozens of CSWL instructors conduct the training. – We have achieved very efficient and fast – due to the fact that it has been little than 2 years – the ability to train on the same level as before under Abrams Tank Academy – stated the military.
When asked about when, by analogy, Polish instructors would take full work for training soldiers serving on the latest Abrams M1A2 SEP v.3, Colonel Łukarski estimated that in this respect time “does not chase” military. – We are going to prepare the teacher staff this year so that in the mediate or at the end of next year, if necessary, we can be able to train ourselves. But for now, we're fulfilling a contract that the staff is training the American side. He stressed.
The first 28 of the 250 Abrams in the latest version of M1A2 SEP v.3 reached Poland in January. In early April, the first Polish tankers, as part of the complementary training, fired vehicles of this kind on the ground in Biedrusek, Sub-Zaznań.
Source: PAP
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