Team of ‘Tip of the Spear’ Associates Receives Appreciation from Troops
Deployment is never easy, yet the rewards of serving men and women of the U.S. armed forces in a contingency location is more than gratifying to the team of volunteer associates at Poland’s Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area (DPTA).
The Exchange team slept, ate and worked with Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division as they rotated in from CONUS and Europe locations for two months.
“We had a great crew at DPTA who really went above and beyond every day,” said 4th Infantry Division Capt. Patrick Goddeyne.
Rapid setup of MFEs
DPTA is one of three locations the Army set up temporary Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration camps to move units into Poland. Camp Karliki and Camp Trzebien were the other two locations.
At each site, the Exchange rapidly set up a mobile field exchange and barber shop. More than 40,000 transactions later, the Soldiers moved from their RSOI camps into new homes across Poland and other European countries to support the Operation Atlantic Resolve military exercise.
It’s a truly humbling experience to be out here supporting our troops where ever they go.
— Ron McCool, warehouse manager
Three months into the mission, the DPTA team has moved forward to their next deployed location in Poland, the Bemowo Pimiskie Training Area.
The 10-hour drive brought not only a change in scenery but adjustment to the support.
‘A humbling experience’
The team shifted to serve not only the U.S. Cavalry Regiment unit, but also 400-plus NATO members teaming up with them at a location within a two-hour drive from Russia.
“It’s a truly humbling experience to be out here supporting our troops where ever they go,” said Ron McCool, warehouse manager at the Grafenwoehr Exchange in Germany, who deployed to Poland. “After 14 years of military service and more than 25 years of Exchange service, it’s still amazing to see the joy it brings our associates and the troops when they see us (the Exchange) pull in and set up and open for business where they go!”
