Blog Posts tagged with "Illinois"

The gratitude expressed to me for the contributions of the school equipment was nothing short of overwhelming. The good will engendered among local and provincial officials, school administrators, students, parents and the public at large cannot begin to be measured. This was truly an example of American "soft power" at its best.

During the visit, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with several local dignitaries and community leaders, including the deputy governor of Malopolska Province, Andrzej Harezlak; the commander of Maloposka Province fire brigades, Col. Andrzej Mroz; and his deputy, Col. Jozef Galica; professors Jozef Danko and Rafal Danko, engineering professors at the AGH University of Science and Technology; as well as Director Barbara Planta of the school. U.S. Deputy Consul General Jeffrey C. Vick also attended the ceremony with several consular staff. 

This event, in my opinion, clearly burnished the American military image in this important area of Poland. 

Mr. Vick took the opportunity to increase military contact by inviting the school to participate in the consulate’s program for school children to make and send Christmas cards to Task Force White Eagle, the Polish battle group in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. When Polish military aircraft pick up the cards in Krakow, the school children are allowed to tour the aircraft and meet the crews. 

Since the Illinois National Guard has a long-standing relationship with Poland through the State Partnership Program, this was not my first trip to the country. I attended the state funerals last year, which Mr. Vick said had a very positive impact on public opinion toward the U.S. in general and the American military in particular.

The Illinois National Guard has been developing its partnership with Poland since 1993.  It has developed over the years from a basic military exchange program to a bilateral relationship that enhances regional security and has assisted in the transformation of Poland’s former Soviet-bloc conscription force to the current all volunteer, professional military.  Since the initial entry of Polish forces into Iraq, Illinois National Guard forces have deployed with the Polish Task Forces, a relationship that continues today. 

Currently, 18 Soldiers from the Illinois National Guard are embedded with and filling critical leadership and support roles with Task Force White Eagle. 

At the Illinois National Guard, we believe the single greatest contribution we can make to the long-term security of the U.S. is the relationship we have forged with Poland, which not only leads to a stable central Europe, but also adds a valuable ally in our long-term commitment to fight terrorism and instability throughout the world.

William L. Enyart
Major General, The Adjutant General
Illinois National Guard