GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Members of task force white eagle’s Polish Battle Group A invited Texas Army National Guard Soldiers from the Ghazni Agribusiness Development Team-IV to qualify on Polish rifles Feb. 6.
The exercise was created to promote camaraderie and esprit de corps between the Polish troops and Texas Army Guardmembers.
Twenty-three ADT-IV Soldiers braved the cold and snowy conditions and were instructed in weapons familiarization before lining up at the test fire range.
The Soldiers fired and qualified with the Polish AK-74 5.56 mm Mini-Beryl short assault rifle.
“This was most likely the first time U.S. soldiers had an opportunity to shoot from our rifles,” said Polish Battle Group A Lt. Jakub Węcławowicz. “They had a lot of fun which was the main goal of this competition - to enjoy it.”
The soldiers who qualified were presented with their official certificates and rifle badges during a ceremony Feb. 19.
Polish Army Lt. Col. Jaroslaw Gorowski presented the badges. Eight Soldiers received the bronze badge, 11 received the silver badge, and four received the most-coveted gold badge.
U.S. Army Capt. Brent A. Kemp was one of the four soldiers who received the gold badge.
“This was a truly outstanding event that allowed us to do something we ordinarily wouldn’t have had the chance to do,” he said. “We work alongside our Polish Army counterparts on missions, so it was a nice break to go out during some very rare down time to fire their rifles and qualify within their standards on their course.”
To reciprocate, Ghazni ADT-IV is planning a similar opportunity for the Polish soldiers to qualify on the M4 rifle in the spring.