ZAGAN, Poland – Soldiers from the Polish Army’s 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, 11th Armored Cavalry Division and U.S. Army’s 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division took the opportunity to learn from each other during bilateral maintenance training at Zagan, Poland Jan. 8, 2018.
Staff Sgt. Clayton Story, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the 82nd BEB, showed Polish soldiers his unit’s maintenance bays, briefing them on the unit’s various tools used to perform maintenance.
“We're building our relations and learning more about each other’s equipment,” said Story about the training. “(We’re learning) the ways they (the Polish) operate to enhance our ability to effectively work (together).”
After viewing the U.S. equipment, Polish soldiers reciprocated by showing the 82nd BEB troops the Polish maintenance bays used to perform maintenance on wheeled and tracked vehicles.
“Having the opportunity to get up close and look at the build of the Polish vehicles, I can see some of our equipment isn't that different from theirs,” said Spc. Dalton Hitchcock, a track vehicle repairer assigned to 82nd BEB.
Polish Capt. Honorata Walaszczyk participated in the training and was able to see firsthand how maintenance differs between the two nations.
“This is very important for all of us,” said Walaszczyk. “Regarding the equipment, we will be able to rely on each other in more ways because of this training. Poland will now be able to conduct maintenance on the U.S. equipment should we need to and the U.S. on our equipment.”
The 82nd BEB is just one of several units deployed to Poland and other European countries as part of Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. endeavor to deter aggression and maintain relations with ally and partner nations.
