Capt. Andrew Harrison, deputy intelligence operations officer, Mission Command Element-Atlantic Resolve, 4th Infantry Division, takes aim at a 25-meter target during a shooting competition in Poznan, Poland, Nov. 9, 2017. The P83 Wanad pistol used during the contest is a weapon commonly used by the Polish armed forces. (Photo by Sgt. Scott J. Evans)
By Sgt. Scott J. Evans
Mission Command Element-Atlantic Resolve, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office
POZNAN, Poland — Soldiers with Mission Command Element-Atlantic Resolve, 4th Infantry Division, took part in a shooting competition Nov. 9-10, 2017, with the Polish 14th Garrison Support Unit.
Part of the Polish Independence Day events, the training exercise was held at the MCE headquarters in Poznan, Poland, as a demonstration of the continued friendship and cooperation between the two allies in a display of combined readiness and resolve in the comprehensive security and defense of eastern Europe.
“I hadn’t worked with a lot of our foreign allies or partners, but the overall experience of being in Europe has been fantastic,” said Capt. Andrew Harrison, MCE deputy intelligence officer. “It has been interesting learning about their culture.”
The shooting competition was unique to the U.S. Soldiers as it allowed the firing of only 10 rounds with a P83 Wanad pistol at a target 25 meters down a narrow shooting lane. Three practice shots were allowed as warmups.
Soldiers with Mission Command Element-Atlantic Resolve, 4th Infantry Division, learn the fundamentals of the P83 Wanad pistol at the small arms range at the MCE headquarters in Poznan, Poland, Nov. 9, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Scott J. Evans)
The contest began with range orientation and weapon familiarization with the P83. Commonly used by the Polish military, the firearm is a single- and double-action pistol that fires 9-by-18 mm rounds.
“The fundamentals were the same, but the weapon was definitely smaller than I am used to,” said Sgt. 1st Class Aubrey Rose, MCE fleet maintenance NCO in charge.
The range was challenging for all involved. The winner of the contest, a Polish soldier, scored 77 percent.
Both the American and Polish Soldiers felt that the training was valuable.
“I think that it’s a good integration tool to train with our allies by getting familiar with each other’s weapons, and it was a lot of fun,” Rose said.
A day later, a Polish Independence Day ceremony was held at the complex gymnasium as the U.S. participants were recognized for taking part in the shooting event and each of them received a Polish participation award. Numerous Polish soldiers and civilian contractors also received awards of achievement and appreciation.
Harrison said the MCE Soldiers are looking forward to future training and bonding opportunities with their Polish allies.
“During the course of the exercise the Polish soldiers were very nice and explained things well, and they were good with their safety and range procedures,” Harrison said. “More events like this would be good to improve joint relations on post.”
Sgt. 1st Class Aubrey Rose, fleet maintenance NCO in charge, Mission Command Element-Atlantic Resolve, 4th Infantry Division, shakes hands with Polish Lt. Col. Grzegorz Pytlak, deputy commander, 14th Garrison Support Unit, after receiving a Polish participation award for his involvement in the marksmanship event during a ceremony commemorating Poland’s Independence Day in Poznan, Poland, Nov. 10, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Scott J. Evans)