Dual Eagle exercise with NATO ally
Poland took on new urgency
Story and photos by Rick
Emert, Bamberg bureau
Col. Miroslaw Rozmus,
center, commander of the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade from Poland, discusses friendly and
enemy troop locations with members of his staff during Dual Eagle. |
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — President Bush called for Americans to get back to their
normal routines. Last week, U.S. Army Europe’s 1st Infantry Division began doing just
that.
However, the division’s current quarterly command post exercise, called Dual Eagle
and about eight months in the planning, is anything but normal.
The exercise brought about 1,400 soldiers from 1st ID and supporting units together for
a simulated exercise at Grafenwöhr Training Area that began Tuesday and wrapped up Friday
afternoon.
The exercise was a simulated "bilateral, high-intensity conflict" fought
entirely on computer screens, said Dave Darnall, a 1st ID exercise controller.
But what’s unique about this exercise is that it implements 25 members of the
command staff from the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade from Poland, one of NATO’s newest
members, Darnall said.
"Since the first day, the Polish brigade has been treated like any other brigade
in the division," Darnall said. The 21st was involved in all aspects of the exercise,
including division maneuver planning and rehearsals.
American and Polish
soldiers input battle information at a work station linked to the simulation center at
Grafenwöhr, Germany. Sgt. Rick Adame, front left; Pfc. Chris Winters, front right; Maj.
Edward Gubernat, rear left; and 1st Lt. Maciej Milczanowski, rear right; were among the
more than 1,400 participants in the Dual Eagle command post exercise. Adame and Winters
are with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany. Gubernat and
Milczanowski are with the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade from Poland. |
"[Col. Miroslaw Rozmus, 21st commander] and his staff have intensely studied our
process — how we receive and process orders, that time from higher headquarters to
the fight," said Maj. Gen. John Craddock, 1st ID commanding general. "I think
it’s helpful for them, because they’ll be with us in NATO contingencies."
"For me and my staff, this is the first experience with the American Army and an
American division," Rozmus said. "For my staff and for my officers, this is
perfect for the exchange of information, and the experience is so important. It will allow
the conduct of future operations to be so much easier, with better understanding and
cooperation between our units."
And 1st ID benefits, as well.
"The stuff [Rozmus] brings to the table adds tremendously to the combat power of
the division," Darnall said.
It seems soldiers at all levels participating in the exercise are aware of its
significance.
Sgt. Stacey Kirkpatrick is a generator mechanic with the 101st Military Intelligence
Battalion out of Würzburg. "I haven’t had any direct contact with the Polish
soldiers, but I think this is great. Since Poland just came into NATO, this gives us the
opportunity to bond and to know each other’s tactics."
Craddock added that this will not likely be the last such exercise with the 21st.
"This is probably the first in a series of exercises in which we train with
Poland," Craddock said. "[1st ID] is coming back in February and March for its
mission rehearsal exercise. We’ve requested to have part of the 21st Brigade as a
company during that rehearsal."
Dual Eagle's top three
leaders discuss the exercise with other participants during a battle update briefing. Col.
Miroslaw Rozmus, left, commander of the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade from Poland; Brig. Gen.
Michael Combest, center, 1st Infantry Division's assistant division commander for
Maneuvers; and Maj. Gen. John Craddock, right, 1st ID commanding general, led the video
teleconference briefing Wednesday evening. |
The mission rehearsal exercise takes place at the Combat Maneuver Training Center in
Hohenfels. The exercise is designed to prepare 1st ID units for their role as the main
element of Task Force Falcon in Kosovo next year. The rehearsal turns CMTC into a sort of
mini-Kosovo, even replicating small towns for soldiers to practice such peacekeeping
skills as riot control. There is currently a Polish/Ukraine Battalion as part of Task
Force Falcon in Kosovo.
Dual Eagle was delayed about a day as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City
and Washington, D.C. But sources from 1st Infantry Division say America’s new war on
terrorism hasn’t changed how soldiers trained during Dual Eagle, which was planned
months ago.
Nor have the attacks had a detrimental effect on the troops. Craddock said that
overall, the morale of his troops remains high.
"We focus a lot on stability and predictability. [Leaders] know what will happen
week to week and month to month, so the soldiers have an idea of what’s coming, and
things happen when they are supposed to," Craddock said.
"Then all of a sudden, this terrible tragedy happens, and it’s changed their
lives forever. It’s taken a degree of that predictability away. But my judgment is
that, overall, the majority [of soldiers] are in great spirits."
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