Colonel Jarosław Mika officially took over the command of the Command Support Brigade (CSB) of Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE). The ceremony took place on September 1, 2008 in Wałcz, where two battalions of the Command Support Brigade are situated.
Change of command at CSB
The march of an honour-guard company and raising the flag of the Polish Land Forces initiated a military ceremony of change of command. In order to honour the moment of taking over the command of Command Support Brigade by Colonel Jarosław Mika, a lot of guests arrived in the barracks in Wałcz. The military world was represented by among others Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral, Commander of Multinational Corps Northeast, Major General Jerzy Michałowski, Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of the Polish Land Forces as well as commanders of three CSB’s battations – Lieutenant Colonel Marian Matoszka, Commander of the 100th Signal Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Marek Czyż, Commander of the 104th Support Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel Klaus Herrmann Echterbeck, Commander of the 610th Signal Battalion. Head of Wałecki Poviat* and the City Mayor of Wałcz, representatives of authorities of Stargard Szczeciński as well as Chiefs of the Police and Fire Brigade in Wałecki Poviat and Chief of the Military Police Headquarters in Wałcz also took part in the ceremony.
Major General Jerzy Michałowski introduced Colonel Jarosław Mika to the gathered, presenting his military career and achievements. All this made him convinced of Colonel Mika’s exemplary service, which would also be a profit in the Command Support Brigade. He also thanked Colonel Jacek Rolak, who had been a commanding officer of CSB since December 6th, 2007, additionally performing duties of deputy commander and chief of staff. It was the time when the Brigade was actually getting strong, developing and successfully performing tasks. Being in charge of such unit would definitely be a valuable experience for Colonel Rolak, General Michałowski emphasized.
When Colonel Mika took over a unit banner, symbolically becoming a commander, he addressed all the gathered guests. He accepted the challenge with pride, satisfaction and responsibility. He declared not only to continue efforts of his predecessors, but also to improve performing of tasks, where possible. As he said, joint commitment of soldiers supported by families and local environment leads to success and satisfaction from fulfiling tasks.
The official ceremony was completed in so-called Room of Tradition, where necessary papers were signed. It was the time when General Goral, Commander MNC NE, made a speech, in which he noted a high importance of CSB in supporting the Corps. He also thanked Colonel Rolak and wished the CSB simply good luck.
Colonel Jarosław Mika finished Armoured College in Poznań; he rose through the ranks serving among others as an armoured platoon, company and battalion commander, staff officer in the Land Forces Command and General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. In 2007 he served as Assistant Chief of Staff in Polish Contingent in Iraq. His previous post was Deputy Chief of the Land Forces’ Development Planning Board. For his exceptional service he was sent for postgraduate Study of Defence Policy at Military Academy of Defence in Warsaw. Colonel Mika will serve as Commander CSB until 30th June 2011.
* Poviat - second level of local government administration in Poland
