Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1517379
Extreme. The Territorial Defense Component also organized another edition of the GROTowisko conference, collaborating with the FB Radom company. It attracted numerous experts and enthusiasts, as usual. The Territorial Defense Component has also been developing concepts tied to the use of animal potential during mission work. The SAR K9 Groups project assumes that a Territorial Defense Center for Specialist SAR Groups Training would be established. Horse training is also one of the most dynamically developing areas in WOT. Territorial Defense Forces Training Centre (CSWOT, Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Obrony Terytorialnej) also remained very active last year. The CSWOT body organized more than 130 courses and trainings, during which more than 2.500 people received training. The Center also worked on its international cooperation efforts. A memorandum of understanding was signed with the US National Guard's 129th Regional Training Institute, based in Springfield. International Cooperation Investments The year 2023 was also intense for WOT when it came to international cooperation. More than 70 visits abroad took place, Poland was a host country for more than 100 delegated parties, coming from other states. Commanders of the partner territorial branches also paid a visit to the Territorial Defense Component Command, including Commander of the Canadian Armed Forces General Jocelyn Paul, Swedish Home Guard Commander, Div. Gen. Laura Swaan Wrede, and commander of the Estonian Defense League, Brig. General Riho Uhtegi. Other visits that are worth mentioning include a visit by Col. Orlin Nikolov, Director at Centre of Excellence, CAMP DAWSON commander Col. Joseph Fonseca, West Virginia National Guard Commander Div. Gen William E. Crane, or 6th UK Division Commander, Div. Gen. G. Strickland. Support for All Citizens The Territorial Defense Branch is "Always Ready, Always Close By", as the service's motto reads. The Territorial Defense Forces soldiers are often the first responders, supporting those in need, and injured. Given the territorial nature of this branch, the TDF troops often engage in joint training with the authorities at the local level. They learn how they can efficiently work with the Firefighters, Police, and jointly cooperate within numerous crisis response scenarios. This is especially relevant, as WOT is responsible for crisis management activities, across the whole Polish MoD. To make the undertaken operations far more efficient, the component places a lot of emphasis on cooperative efforts with the public administration, and authorities at the local level. The Territorial Defense Forces signed memoranda on cooperation this year, with bodies and organs such as the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Gaz-System, or the Prison Service. WOT soldiers have been, uninterruptedly, for two years now, serving along the eastern border of Poland. Starting from 2023 they have also been present on the Polish-Slovakian state border. The troops of the Territorial Defense www.fragoutmag.com