Although our division is not recommended to supply support to the Border Guard, we have already prepared ourselves for action on the border. We're here, we don't request to be dragged from another parts of the country. We have at our disposal a adequate resource of soldiers who could support troops who are presently guarding the border – provided Gen. Dyw. Dr. Norbert Ivanowski, commander of the 1st Legion Infantry Division.
Gen. Dyw. Dr. Norbert Ivanowski, Commander of 1st Legion Infantry Division.
It'll be 3 years after the call. 1st Legion Infantry Division Marshal Józef Piłsudski. Much has happened in Poland and in the planet along the way. Have there been any changes in the concept of forming a division?
Nothing relevant. The general imagination is inactive about establishing a tactical union that will make a challenge so serious that it will not have an answer immediately or will search it for a long time. On the organisational level, 2 changes concerning the location were made. For example, the mechanized brigade, which was originally to be formed in Brodnica, or deep in the group, will be built in the area of Białystok. After my recommendation, the defence minister made his decision.to decision her to the Podlase, where there have been no typical operating units so far.
Are there gonna be 3 brigades?
Yeah. The mentioned mechanized, motorized and armored. The division will be close to the border so that, in addition to fulfilling typical tasks, it can respond to hybrid threats and support various services to counter illegal immigration. This will be handled by a motorised mobile brigade in the future. At the same time, heavier and maneuverable components of the remaining brigades are to be close adequate to rapidly enter into action in the event of threats having military features, without being straight affected by the opponent.
"The Features of Military Action", why this caution in describing the situation?
The difference between peace, crisis and war sometimes fades. Despite recognizing any signs of imminent threat, we may not be clear about the enemy's intentions. Regardless, we must find an adequate consequence to his actions.
Let's go back to forming – are you completely giving up Brodnica?
No, in cooperation with the 4th Chemical Regiment, our divisional chemical battalion is formed there. It's a pilot program, 1 DPLeg as the only one, at least for now, will have specified a battalion in its structures.
Which unit is the second change of location?
The logistics regiment. In the first version it was planned in Łomża, yet to be built in Mława. This does not mean that in both cases the erstwhile locations were mistakenly indicated or were not estimated for the approved plans. It's changed. safety environment in the region. The fresh location will increase the combat capabilities of the division and facilitate logistics. This will translate into a higher level of deterrence and support in an area where a threat may occur.
The division will be stationed in 4 provinces...
Yeah. The Podlaskie Voivodeship will stay a key one, but our units will besides be in the Mazowieckie, east Kujawsko-Pomorskie and confederate Warmian-Masurian region.
Production: Marcin Ogdowski, Aleksander Kruk, Paweł Sobkowicz
And whether the experience of the war in Ukraine, above all the so-called. dronization of the battlefieldHave they changed anything in the concept of forming a division?
We analyse the conclusions of the war in Ukraine, and we introduce any solutions to the training process. But in my opinion, we should be careful. The nature of war is variable. The area of combat operations, weaponry utilized or the method of action may change. After all, we saw another conflict in Ukraine in 2014, another war in 2022. Almost all period tactics, techniques and procedures change. This is of course an antidote to the action of the opponent, and each action produces a reaction. As a result, we do not know what the future will show. Shall we go to robotics? Or will human competence be the most crucial thing again? In Donbasa, both sides dug and hid behind minefields. The front stands, although of course there are rallying and it comes to breaking through enemy forces. It seems that the key ability is survival, physical strength and intellectual resilience.
That's why the Russians are trying to attack society...
They effort to make a sense of danger, panic and deficiency of hope for survival. They hope that a war-stricken society will increasingly influence political decisions about ending the war, of course on Russian principles. Well, the Russians are like that... As for drones, we must build our own capabilities in this area, at tactical level from the lowest levels of command and operation, both in the domain of diagnosis and destruction. But we besides request to be alert and effective in identifying and indicating goals for kinetic and non-kinetic effects. delight pay attention to operational cloaking issues. The Russian masking (operational masking) is so credible that the artificial eye does not always decently measure whether the mark is actual or apparent. Only a man can make a sound assessment, using, for example, minidrons – which emphasizes the importance of peculiar troops, reconnaissance, operating in the back of the opponent. In the context of the future war, we must guarantee that the ability to usage drones is developed and that we do not waste our possible on objects or apparent targets.
Let's leave the kinetic issues to it for now. How It Goes building of barracks infrastructure and training facilities?
This is simply a process that needs to be planned and for which there must be funding...
I take it it's not good.
Oh, no. For example, here in Ciechanów, we started building 2 barracks and office buildings. But knowing that permanent infrastructure takes two, 2 and a half years, we first invested in temporary solutions, utilizing containers.
Like on a abroad mission.
During which we learned well to usage solutions specified as transitional camps. So far we have built six of them and they are truly awesome and – most importantly – supply ergonomic service. Apart from the office and residential part, there is besides a method infrastructure there, enabling the day-to-day operation of equipment, erstwhile it reaches the units.
Yeah, what about the equipment?
In the Drought, where we form a rocket squadron, in the first 4th of next year will appear lobster-K launchers. We have crews and we're preparing them for the equipment.
Where?
Our soldiers are leaving for units where this weapon already functions – up to 1 BA and 18 BA, units under 16 and 18th Mechanized Division.
Are they undergoing a full training cycle?
Nope. Combat shooting is inactive a long way away, but they learn maintenance and maneuvering. My subordinates will easy find themselves on fresh equipment.
1 The division is besides to receive K-2 tanks?
Delivery starts in 2027. For me, it's the day after tomorrow, which is why I've been trying to get replacement equipment. Units that have defied Abrams And K-2, they've given up utilized equipment so far, and any of it can come to us. This will let tankers to keep habits and the division to build bridge capacity.
We're talking tough guys and T-72s, right?
First of all PT-91. The 1st Division acquires the ability to temporarily accept this kind of tank for 1 of the battalions in the already functioning armored brigade.
Where will he shoot?
There's Orish nearby. I think in six months, possibly a small more, we'll be there for combat shooting.
You're talking about 1 battalion...
Bye. In time, our capabilities will increase.
What about anti-aircraft equipment?
We have established the seeds of the anti-aircraft regiment – a squadron with a location in Ostrołęka. erstwhile provincial city, with a large base crucial for the functioning of military families. We don't have any weapons yet, but the elements of the squadron have already been trained twice, with the 12th Division, at the Marine Wick camp. We started with simple things, Thunder launchers. We will yet get Poprad systems and Little Narew and PilicaBut we gotta wait for them. precedence are typically operational units, 16 and 18 Divisions in the east of the country and 11 and 12 in the west.
Did you mention training in another units, and do you execute yourself?
Yeah, like, uh, polygon training. We don't request any method means for it. Especially since as a fresh unit we are in the phase of equalizing the levels of training of soldiers. People from active and passive reserves come to us. any had a military oath 15–20 years ago, they haven't worn a uniform since then, they haven't been in the field. There are those who proceed to serve, and any must know the same thing. Hence shooting, field medicine classes, anti-aircraft shields, support and engineering security. Exercises are organized utilizing cross-country exercise areas, snowmobile school and training facilities, urban centres, obstacle tracks, napalms and others.
A lot, and even more "universaries"...
Let's look at Ukraine again. Both sides sit in trenches, dense combat equipment is far behind and provides support. What's the conclusion? Yeah, you gotta dust off the infantry special, the ability to shoot or respond to all kinds of alarms.
Let's look at the supplies and evacuations of people and equipment or the protection of peculiar infrastructure. All of this besides requires protection. Not only anti-aircraft, but besides the 1 on the ground, in the infantry domain, to destruct even diversional threats, shields of communication lines or objects.
At this phase of formation, do you have specified abilities?
Yeah. I'll tell you more. Although the division is not advisable to supply support to the Border Guard, we have already prepared ourselves for action on the border. We're here, we don't request to be dragged from another parts of the country. So if the superiors so wish, We have at our disposal a adequate resource of soldiers who could support troops that are presently guarding the border.
How many soldiers are in the division?
A small over 2.1 thousand. The process of forming the 1st Division is without major interference. The added value is the staff of the Ministry of Defence, recruited in accordance with the approved concept.
Do you function between the 16th and 18th divisions, choice each another up soldiers?
Professional soldiers must work in the headquarters, due to the fact that only they have the right experience, training, organization memory. Thus, the strength of these personnel comes from another operating units. On the another hand, soldiers in subdivisions come to us primarily from passive reserve and territorial defence troops – I am referring to soldiers of territorial military service who do not have a occupation in WOT.
These 2.1 1000 military – what part of the mark individual status?
According to the concept of 1 DPleg is expected to number about 30 1000 soldiers, but this depends on many factors, including, for example, the allocated limits of active soldiers and passive reserve.
A very large tactical relationship... erstwhile is it expected to be full operational?
According to the concept, the first readiness was to be achieved after 2034. The final framework and form of the divisional formation will be included in the SZ improvement Programme for the period 2025–2039, and this will be our signpost.
Almost a decade left, quite a few time...
We've already accelerated rather a bit. It seemed that the years 2023-2025 would be typically planned and that then we would decision on with the forming process. However, as early as July 2023, we opened the first units and bound the structures of the subdivisions to the level of the battalion.
