On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, from 11:00 AM to 1 PM, American Army troops from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment met with residents of Łódź at Leon Schiller’s Avenue. Łódź residents were be able to talk to American soldiers and see American military equipment up-close, including Strykers, Humvees and support vehicles. Polish soldiers from the Military Medical Training Center in Łódź and the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade from Tomaszów Mazowiecki also took part in the event and present their equipment. Official hashtag for the event is #OpKnightRider.
These 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment troops are currently exercising in Drawsko Pomorskie with Polish Soldiers from the 12th Mechanized Brigade. On February 22nd “Operation Knightrider” will begin – around 30 U.S. Army vehicles in three columns will drive across Poland. On the 24 of February, in the evening they will reach the military base in Nowa Dęba, where they will continue exercising with the Polish Army until March 10th.
The goal of the “Operation Knightrider” is to demonstrate NATO forces’ freedom of movement along NATO interior lines, as well as the U.S. commitment to NATO security. This exercise is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve launched in April 2014, a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine.
Similar community events with American troops were organized in Poland several times over the past year. Pictures from those events can be found here: Białystok, Drawsko Pomorskie, Sandomierz, Rzeszów, Toruń.
