It was the first NATO institution not only in Poland, but besides in all post-communist countries that joined the Pact after the fall of communism. So far, respective tens of thousands of soldiers have been trained with command and staff of units from all over the Alliance. The Bydgoszcz Joint Forces Training Centre – JFTC celebrates 20 years of its existence.
Bydgoszcz is 1 of the largest military garrisons in our country. In this city there are: Armed Forces Support Inspectorate, 1st Logistics Brigade, and Central intellectual Action Group, and a branch of the gendarmerie, military infirmary or 11th WOG. It besides houses 5 North Atlantic Alliance units: the Military Gendarmerie Expert Center, the 3rd Communications Battalion, the NATO Integration Force Unit – NFIU, the NATO ICT Support Team, and Joint Forces Training Centre – JFTCwhich this year celebrates the 20th anniversary of its creation. It was the first NATO structure located not only in Poland but besides in Central and east Europe.
Two decades of transformation
Although the JFTC formally began operations on March 31, 2004, this year's Jubilee was celebrated on May 22 and 23. On the first day, JFTC command organized an global military picnic on the Bydgoszcz market, while on the second day, on the premises of JFTC facilities in Szubińska Street, there were celebrations attended by officials. In his beginning speech, JFTC commander Gen. Dyw. Norbert Wagner stressed that from the beginning of the Centre's operation it had played a key function in the hard process of NATO transformation, which started the Alliance summit in 2002 in Prague. General Wagner stressed that since 2009, the Centre's most crucial task has been to train the leadership of the NATO missions and the staff of key allied tactical and operational unions. However, JFTC's tasks do not end there.
– In 2011, the Centre held its first interoperability exercise Coalition Warrior, in short CWIX, which is now the most crucial yearly NATO interoperability event, said the German officer. He recalled that since 2020, JFTC's second most crucial exercise is ‘Leda’ code-name training, which is attended by the staff of Natian corps preparing for tasks within the Allied fast consequence Forces.
During the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the JFTC, the symbolic was that the institution under the control of the Centre, the Allied Transformation Command (ACT), was represented by a Polish officer, General Robert Głąb, Deputy Chief of Staff of the same structure. The Polish general read a letter addressed to JFTC staff and staff by General Philippe Lavigne's Transformation Commander. “When the war returned to Europe, we all realized how much NATO needed to carry out the mission of deterrence and defence, and how crucial it is to have effective military potential,” wrote ACT commander.
After the authoritative part of the celebration and presentation of the awards and distinctions to the staff and JFTC staff, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in front of the Centre's building, and the guests were greeted by musicians from the French military orchestra.
