A Polish land forces officer and American soldiers of U.S. Army Garrison Poland salute during the Polish national anthem during the garrison’s change of command ceremony June 28, 2024, at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan. (Devin Klecan/U.S. Army)
The U.S. Army’s first permanent base in Poland is under new leadership following a change of command at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan.
Col. Jesse Chace on Friday replaced Col. Christopher Church, who led U.S. Army Garrison Poland for the past year.
“It’s always an honor to command, but to take command of a unit that is still building and make a lasting impact on such a great team and community is a dream come true,” Chace said in a statement.
Col. Christopher Church, right, outgoing commander of U.S. Army Garrison Poland, embraces incoming commander Col. Jesse Chase during the garrison’s change of command ceremony in Poznan, Poland, on June 28, 2024. (Devin Klecan/U.S. Army)
Chace leads a team of roughly 100 soldiers and civilians who provide support for thousands of service members carrying out missions across Poland and the Black Sea region.
The garrison in Poznan also is home to the Army’s V Corps forward operational headquarters, where commanders oversee Army missions along NATO’s eastern flank.
Chace will command 11 installations spread out across military communities in Poznan, Powidz and Swietoszow. His leadership will also include command and control of U.S. Army Garrison Black Sea, which involves Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria, the Army said.
Col. Jesse Chace, incoming commander of U.S. Army Garrison Poland, takes the unit's guidon from Tommy Mize, right, Installation Management Command Europe director, during the garrison’s change of command ceremony at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland, on June 28, 2024. (Devin Klecan/U.S. Army)
In March 2023, the Army designated Camp Kosciuszko as its first permanent base in Poland. The move coincided with Poland’s emergence in recent years as the center of gravity for Army operations aimed at fortifying defenses against potential Russian aggression coming from the east.
U.S.-based armored brigades that routinely rotate in and out of Poland represent the bulk of the American ground force in the country, where up to 10,000 troops are operating at any given time.
In addition, the Army has a logistics hub in Powidz, where an arsenal of weaponry also is stockpiled at a major depot.
