On 12 September 2011, the Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast Lieutenant General Rainer Korff was invited by the Commander of the Polish Land Forces Lieutenant General Zbigniew Głowienka to participate in the celebration of the Polish Land Forces’ Day. This very special day for the Land Forces was conducted in the biggest military training area of Poland in Drawsko Pomorskie.
In the program lasting more than 5 hours, the Polish Land Forces, represented by different formations and units from all over Poland, demonstrated their capabilities and abilities. After the arrival in “the Heart of the training area” in Oleszno, the Commander of the Polish Land Forces Lieutenant General Zbigniew Głowienka welcomed all invited guests. More than 200 mainly military personnel from all different ranks took part in this event. The MNC NE Commander was the one and only soldier who was not from Poland.
The airborne brigade, supported by the air cavalry brigade, made the first presentation. A number of parachuters were dropped on the air field to conduct an attack on it. During the whole sequence, they were supported by helicopters from the cavalry brigade. The second point of the program was a static display of most modern equipment and the weaponry of the Polish Land Forces. Major General Jerzy Bieziewski, the Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Corps in Kraków, acted as a guide for the MNC NE Commander providing General Korff with explanations and further details when needed. This once more stressed the good relations and friendship of the two “sister corps”.
The highlight of the day was the live firing prepared by the 12th Mechanized Brigade in Szczecin. All guests were transported to the so-called “yellow stand” from where they were able to observe the tactical shooting of a battle group with nearly all already presented material and equipment. Before this special presentation started, the participants of the celebration had the pleasure to meet the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Bronisław Komorowski, who participated in the event from that moment on, being accompanied by the new Minister of Defence, Mr Tomasz Siemoniak.
The Polish Land Forces’ Day also included an award ceremony of various national decorations. Soldiers of all ranks, civilian employees as well as representatives from the civil political sector were awarded for their distinguished service in the Land Forces and missions abroad – Afghanistan and Iraq.
The celebration ended up with a parade of troops and military vehicles, accompanied by the Szczecin Military Band.
