Kraków 2017-11-20
Polish Military Contingent Orlik 7 in Lithuania.
After years of masonic-liberal rule (Civic Platform and Polish People's Party), people faithful to Moscow, Berlin and Brussels, the Polish Republic was governed by the Catholic right wing. The nation began to regain its subjectivity. Good changes also took place in the Polish Army. The Thyreritorial Defense Forces, necessary for the proper defense structure of the Fatherland, began to be organized. And what is very important - at last, the Polish multi-role Lockheed Martin F-16 Jastrząb aircraft have been sent on peacekeeping missions to the Baltic countries. The planes were purchased over ten years ago, for huge amounts, as for such a poor country as the Republic of Poland.
The mission of PKW ORLIK 7 is the seventh Polish mission in the Baltic countries. Until now, Mikojan and Guriewicz MiG-29 planes were sent on missions, alternately from the base in Mińsk Mazowiecki and in Malbork.
The basis for the separation of PKW ORLIK 7 to perform the mission are allied and national documents, resulting from the obligations of the allied countries of NATO, of which Poland is a member. The documents also bear the signature of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The Parliament of the Republic of Poland approved the mission from May 1, 2017. The participation of PMC OLRIK 7 is a contribution to the strengthening of the North Atlantic Alliance, which is the main pillar of international security. PKW ORLIK 7 is the 44th change among all NATO countries performing AIR POLICING tasks in the Baltic states: the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia. The mission is still needed due to the aggressive actions of Comrade Vladimir Putin, the president of the Moscow state.
On April 26, 2017, at the 31st Tactical Air Base in Krzesiny, the ceremony of sending soldiers, planes and the necessary equipment to the mission took place. The farewell was attended by the general commander of the armed forces, Maj. Gen. Jarosław Mika and the Chief of Staff of the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, Brig. Andrzej Tuz. At. 10.00 with a report submitted by the Commander of the 2nd Tactical Air Wing, Colonel pil. dipl. Jacek Pszczoła to the General Commander, Maj. Gen. Jarosław Mice began a solemn appeal. After the greeting according to the military ceremony, the sub-units were reviewed, after which the General Commander greeted the soldiers. The national flag was raised to the sounds of the anthem. Then the commander of the base, Col. pil. dr inż. Grzegorz Ślusarz welcomed the guests who came to the ceremony. The decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on the use of the Polish Military Contingent, was read out. Then, the General Commander handed the component commander, Lt. Col. Piotr Ostrouch, the state flag and a protocol was signed for the transfer of the component into operational subordination between the General Command and the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces. Chaplain of the 31st BLT blessed the soldiers of the Polish Military Contingent. Then, the "Polish Army Representative Song" was played. The parade of sub-units at the Sounds of the Representative Orchestra of the Polish Army concluded the ceremony.
PKW ORLIK 7 consisted of over 100 personnel of various specialties needed to perform tasks and 4 multi-role Lockheed Martin F-16 Jastrząb airplanes. The task of PKW ORLIK 7 is to ensure the inviolability of the NATO airspace in the region of the Baltic states in the QRA combat duty by the effort of 2 aircraft 24 hours / 7 days a week. According to the plan, PKW ORLIK 7 was on duty from the Siauliai airport (LITHUANIA) from May to August 2017.
On May 1, 2017, PKW ORLIK 7 began to fulfill its mission. The commander of PKW ORLIK 7 Lt. Col. pil. Piotr Ostrouch.
The presence of Poles with modern Lockheed Martin F-16 Jastrząb planes did not go unnoticed by the Lithuanian community and the local press. Several shows were organized at Siauliai airport for organized groups, especially children and young people.
Polish airmen were visited by the Lithuanian media: LRT State Radio, Radio Znad Wilii, Kurier Wileński daily, Lrytas portal, LRT State Radio, ALFA portal. On the Polish side, there was only TVP. This should not be surprising. Most of the media in Poland is Polish-speaking, but not Polish.
On Thursday, July 20, 2017, the acting Polish Ambassador to Lithuania, Ms Maria Śliebioda, visited the Šiauliai base. She was accompanied by the Defense Attaché Colonel Mirosław Wójcik and embassy employees. The guests were greeted by the Commander of PKW ORLIK 7 Lt. Col. pil. Piotr Ostrouch. During their stay with Polish airmen, visitors could learn about the conditions of service, equipment and basic tasks performed by the PMC for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Airplanes and aviators' equipment aroused great interest.
The falcons of the falconer Michał Bień aroused great interest. Falcons at airports in the Republic of Poland have been used for several years (2005). Their presence causes other birds to stay away from the landing area, which of course increases the safety of flights.
Traditionally, PKW ORLIK 7 soldiers visited Polish orphanages in Lithuania. Soldiers were invited to schools in Lithuania. They also visited important places to Poles in Lithuania.
The mission of PKW ORLIK 7 was to end on September 1, 2017. For various reasons, the mission ended on October 1, 2017. On October 2, 2017, at the Krzesiny Airport, the ceremony of welcoming the soldiers of the Polish Military Contingent ORLIK 7, ending their 5-month service as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission. During the solemn roll call, the gathered generals, officers and invited guests witnessed the official military ceremony accompanying the return of the separated forces and resources from the 31st Tactical Air Base and other support units. During the ceremony, the General Commander of the Armed Forces was represented by the First Deputy General Commander Maj. Gen. pil. Jan Śliwka, while the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces was represented by the Commander of the Air Operations Center - Air Component Commander, Brig. pil. Dariusz Malinowski, who, by jointly signing the protocols, symbolically transferred to each other sovereignty over the soldiers returning from the mission. A momentous moment of greeting was the submission of a report by the Commander of the Polish Military Contingent ORLIK 7 Lt. pil. Piotr Ostrouch on the fulfillment of mandate tasks, as well as handing over the state flag, which accompanied the soldiers throughout the entire period of the mission. During the occasional speeches, the main motto was to thank the entire staff of PKW ORLIK 7 for the effort and military dedication, which had a huge impact on the level of performed tasks, highly rated by the superiors of higher levels of command. In accordance with the orders of the General Commander of the Armed Forces and the Commander of the 2nd SLT, some of the soldiers were awarded with titles and honorary badges, as well as other forms of military thanks.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman
Based on the materials of the Ministry of National Defense