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The US Army held a ceremony in Poznan on 21 March 2023 to mark the establishment of US Army Garrison (USAG) Poland.

USAG Poland – which will support three forward operating sites (FOS) in Poland: FOS Poznan, FOS Powidz, and FOS Zagan, comprising a total of 11 locations in Poland – is one of the enduring improvements to the US Department of Defense’s posture in Europe based on assessments from the US 2021 Global Posture Review and consultations with NATO allies in light of Russian agression. It was announced by US President Joe Biden in June 2022.

The ceremony was attended by Commanding General of US Army V Corps Lieutenant General John Kolasheski, Director of Installation Management Command (IMCOM) – Europe Tommy R Mize, Commander of USAG Poland Colonel Jorge Fonseca, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, and US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski.

US Army Colonel Jorge M Fonseca, the commander of United States Army Garrison Poland, receives the colours from Tommy R Mize, the director of Installation Management Command – Europe, during an assumption of command ceremony in Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, on March 2023. (Photo: US Army)

“The relationship of the US and Poland serves as an example of the deepening ties throughout the alliance. Today’s activation ceremony is a tangible reminder of the growth in our relationship,” Gen Kolasheski was quoted as saying in a US Army press release. “This army garrison ensures our brave men and women in uniform have the support they need so they can focus on their mission. Permanent support for troops permanently stationed in Poland.”

In October 2022 a memorandum of agreement between the US Army Materiel Command and US Army Europe and Africa transferred operational control of Area Support Group Poland from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command to IMCOM-Europe: the higher headquarters for all US Army garrisons in Europe.

In addition to supporting the permanently assigned forces, USAG Poland will also provide direct base operations support to roughly 4,000 rotational forces and 2,500 surge or exercise personnel.

The United States is the framework nation for NATO’s Multinational Battlegroup Poland: one of eight multinational battlegroups that NATO now has stationed in the east of the Alliance to deter Russian aggression.

Peter Felstead