Ostroeɫęka , Poland. Division2, 2023): In this photo by Alex Soliday, U.S. Army Sergeant Francisco Quinones, assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment “Panther Battalion,” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, shows a child how to move and operate a hitch on the back of a HEMTT recovery vehicle during the Polish Army’s 11th Cavalry competition for the prized Mayor of Ostroeɫęka Cup”. The event is held every year in honor of the Polish regiment that defended the city in the 1920s.

Since 1989, Poland has been a stalwart ally of the United States and is one of America’s most important partners in Eastern Europe. As a fellow member of both NATO and the European Union, Poland is literally at the center of allied defense plans for Europe. Poland has deep cultural ties to America based on immigration and a shared support for democratic institutions. What is more, Poland is one of the most consistently pro-American nations in Europe and the world, with 79% of Poles viewing the US favorably. According to a BBC World Service Poll, 55% of Poles view US influence positively, the highest rating for any surveyed European country. Poland was also one of four participating countries in the American-led Iraq War coalition in 2003.

Over the last five years, the United States has provided more than $34 million in security assistance to Poland for military mobility, security services, and intelligence capabilities. The U.S. Army V Corps is establishing its Headquarters Forward Command in Poland marking the first permanently stationed U.S. Forces on NATO’s eastern flank since World War II.

The 3rd Infantry Division’s mission in Europe is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent, working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners.