Bitter words instead of conclusions
At the conference of I3TO and 21.BSP, innovative technologies
were discussed for two days. However, the sad truth is that sol-
diers of Polish Armed Forces who operate in the mountains use
old-fashioned equipment, which complies with standards of the
1980s or 1990s, or they buy better equipment for own money,
because the gear they are provided with is of low quality and
it makes it more difficult for them to conduct their operations.
It might be worthwhile to consider the possibility of providing
the units with opportunities to buy proper equipment in the free
market instead of central purchases through tenders, as a result
of which the soldiers of mountain units receive gear that is totally
worthless. There could be advantages taken from establishing an
army institution that would track solutions appearing in the out-
door and "tactical" market and, with the use of consultations with
experts, create foundations for purchases of high-quality person-
al equipment. Before and during the conference, the author had
the opportunity to talk with soldiers of mountain infantry and the
condition of their personal equipment, on the basis of their sto-
ries, is gloomy and pessimistic. The units of Podhale and Karpaty
deserve high-quality equipment that would be adjusted to the
nature of their operations.
ANALYSIS