Frag Out! Magazine

The GROM SMU waS Officially cReaTed On 13 JUly, 1990. iT iS pRepaRed TO cOndUcT Of all SpecTRUM Of Special OpeRaTiOnS and UncOnvenTiOnal waRfaRe On land and Sea. The GROM can conduct counter-terrorism (cT) operations, hostage rescue opera- tions, counter insurgency, direct actions, special reconnaissance, military assistance for the friendly countries and governments plus more. On June 10 Radosław Sikorski, the then-current Speaker of the Sejm opened in the deputies' house an exhibition entitled "25 years of the GROM Special Missions Unit". The exposition consisted of the photos which document a history of the GROM unit, the foreign operations and a cooperation with the naTO allies. The exhibition is a co- verage from the all operations conducted in Kosovo, iraq and afghanistan, and from the operation of releasing the afghan parliamentarian fariba Kakar. The images pre- sent also, among others, training exercises on the Baltic Sea and a sniper training. Radosław Sikorski recalled the circumstances which accompanied the activation of the GROM 25 years ago. he also emphasized that the GROM inherits the traditions of the cichociemni – Silent Unseen, the parachutists of the polish home army from world war Two. These men were trained in United Kingdom under SOe and they were sent back to poland occupied by nazi Germans. it is not only depicted in the full name of the unit which is Jednostka wojskowa GROM im. cichociemnych Spadochroniarzy armii Krajowej (english: „Military Unit GROM named in honor of the Silent Unseen of the home army") but also in unit motto which is "Tobie Ojczyzno!" or "for the home- land!" same as motto of their ancestors. as noticed by the GROM cO, cOl piotr Gąstał – the photographs presented during an exhibition create a unique documentation of the real life operation and trainings of the unit. – we are faithful to the traditions and a motto, that the Silent Unseen had engraved on their parachute badges "for the homeland" – he added. in the exhibition also took part former commanders of the GROM, members of par- liament, Stefan niesiołowski - the chairman of the Sejm national defence commit- tee, czesław Mroczek - Secretary of State in the Ministry of national defence, an initiator of the exhibition - Renata Butryn and the representatives of the diplomatic corps, including Stephen Mull - United States ambassador to poland, , deputes and senators, as well as youth and students interested in the defense issues. fRaG OUT! crew could not miss it either therefore you will have an opportunity to see even though a part of the images presented at the exhibition. it is a pity that it was unavailable for the wider audience… The second event was the celebrations of the GROM anniversary organized in unit's base in warsaw. during the ceremony ministry Stanisław Koziej, the head of nSB, decorated the meritorious soldiers with decorations conferred by the president of the Republic of poland: Military crosses, Military crosses of Merit with Swords, and Medals for long-Time Service. There were also awarded the honorary GROM badges of various degrees both to the GROM operators and to civillians who are or were lin- ked to the unit . The ceremony was connected with conferring a name of the barracks square and unveiling of the obelisk which commemorates MaJ Krzysztof woźniak, GROM who was killed in action in afghanistan on January 23. The obelisk, together with his children, was unveiled by the wife of the fallen officer. after finishing an official part, the invited guests could become acquainted with the exhibition of the GROM equipment and armament, as well as participate in the family picnic connected with the performances and shows, in that the parachute jumps. it was remarkable! www.fragoutmag.com

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