Training Agreement Between the US Navy and the Polish Soldiers Stationed in Redzikowo. “One team - One fight”

Cpt. Rick Gilbert, commanding the US Navy support base in Redzikowo has signed agreements with the Polish units: Polish Force Protection Battalion, JW5718 and the 7th Coastal Brigade. The agreement covers the issue of joint training activities.

The memoranda will make it possible for the US sailors and the Polish soldiers to be involved in joint training in all areas of the military operations. This is to constitute a relevant step for enhancing the interoperational abilities established between the US and Polish forces, also bolstering the level of safety at the bases and reinforcing the relationship and communications between the forces involved in the aforesaid activities, hailing both from Poland, as well as from the US. “The agreements signed today represent an immense amount of coordination and communication between the security forces and parent commands of both Polish and American forces” said Capt. Rick Gilbert. “We look forward to productive training and building a 'one team one fight' concept.”

“The Memorandums of Agreement signed this afternoon mark an important milestone in our relationship with our Polish partners," said Rear Adm. Rick Williamson, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia. “These agreements are a tangible demonstration of the U.S. and Polish commitment to NATO's ability to protect itself from the growing threat posed by proliferation of ballistic missiles from outside the Euro-Atlantic area, and allows us to jointly enhance NATO's collective defence.” - as Williamson summed up.

The facility of Redzikowo is going to become a part of the US BMD architecture in Europe, so called European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA). Not only are the elements of the system stationed in Poland, as they have also been deployed to Turkey, as well as Romania. Moreover, a Base for the US Navy vessels involved in the said initiative has been established in Rota, Spain, meanwhile, the German US base in Rammstein hosts a command centre. EPAA is being implemented in three stages. Back in 2016, in a timely manner, the second phase has been properly finalized. The works the goal of which is to properly establish the system in Redzikowo are the initial point of the third phase. 

The base in Redzikowo is to host and make it possible to launch Standard SM-3 Block IB and Block IIA missiles. The launcher package, including SM-3 Block IB land based missiles (Aegis Ashore) has also been deployed to Devesel, Romania - within the framework of phase II. The complex also includes AN/SPY-1 radar and a fire control system. Full operational readiness for the Redzikowo base is to be obtained in the year 2018.