Creativity, indiscriminateness, long-term action. These terms best build the image of Gen. Dyw Arkadiusz Szkutnik. More "fighter" than a staff member, say soldiers who know him. The General for commanding Operation “Safe Podlasie” and acting to improve the conditions of service at the border was honored with the Buzdigan – the award “Polish Armed Forces”.
His father was an officer of the Polish Army, and there were many more uniforms in the immediate vicinity, so in the household home he frequently spoke the language "military". Still, erstwhile he was young, he wanted to become a firefighter. Eventually, a change of interest was decided by cinematography. – precisely the series “Four Armours and a Dog” which, as on my peers, has made a immense impression on me besides – admits Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik and reserves that he initially did not think about the ground troops. – I wanted to be a pilot, I was passionate about modeling, due to the fact that the communicative of Division 303 worked on my imagination. I filed papers for Orląt School, but the restrictive medical tests made me forget my pilot career. So if not an airman, I decided to become an aviator – General Szkutnik smiles.
The decision proved to be highly correct. After graduating from the Higher School of Officers, the Anti-aircraft Defence Army went through all grades of command and staff posts, repeatedly participating in missions outside Poland. From 2022 he remained the commander of the 18th Mechanized Division. – A soldier with blood and bones with the leader's gene – he briefly talks about Gen. Szkutnik General defends Marek Tomaszycki. The current Rector-Commander of the Academy of Land Forces knows Buzdygan's winner professionally and privately. – Wordful, decision-making, helpful, with a large sense of empathy, and witty and well-educated. In addition, he has an extraordinary ability to keep good relations with his subordinates, with his colleagues, with his superiors. due to the fact that wisdom is not only knowledge, but besides the ability to translate it into practice. He does it perfectly – admits Gen. Tomaszycki. The experience gained during the missions in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan allowed Gen. Arkadius Szkutnik to look from a different position at the soldier's everyday life. Modern perception of the art of command, creativity, innovation and above all long-term action plan – these are respective features that best characterise the commander of the 18th Mechanicalised Division. – It can prioritise tasks and manage staff perfectly. He required us to think independently and to affect the full decision-making process, which has always produced tangible results – the colonel recalls. Marcin Zawolak, whose business paths crossed with Gen. Szkutnik, among others, in Afghanistan, and later in the Board of Planning, usage of Armed Forces and Training P3/P7 of the General Staff of the Polish Army.
An example of creative action and non-standard gene approach. The shoemaker for command is his over 2 years service as commander of the 18th Mechanicalised Division, as well as the way he commands Operation Safe Podlasie, 1 of the most crucial military missions. – The large challenge for us was to build effective cooperation between the services, which are not formally subject to the same ministries, including the Polish Army, Border Guard, Police. However, it was rapidly possible to make a unique squad of people who realize who they are, what they are for and why they do what they do. General Szkutnik, who did not deficiency the determination to devote himself to this task, admits Jacek Brzozowski, Podlaskie voivode. The words of the Podlasie state are confirmed by the commander himself. “At first we did have quite a few communication problems. However, a common denominator had to be found. This common denominator was the safety of our soldiers, Border defender officers, the Police and yet the safety of the civilian population. On this we based the pattern of our cooperation, and it turned out to be a bull's-eye – General Szkutnik estimates. respective months of command with Operation Safe Podlasie was adequate for Gen. Arkadiusz Szkutnik to improve organizational issues, grow infrastructure, improve the service and safety of soldiers. – I knew we had to at least start these processes due to the fact that they took time. I always effort to think long-term, hence the actions we started were multifaceted. I did it for my soldiers, of course, but besides for the next shift. So that they do not gotta deal with the same problems that we have been through, taking over the operation," emphasizes Gen. Szkutnik. For example, a medical evacuation strategy was created, and soldiers were equipped with modern equipment. The safety of the soldiers has always been my priority. Yet, they are provided not only by appropriate training, but besides by essential equipment. Therefore, my conflict on the retrofitting of soldiers with better, thermal clothes, smooth-bore weapons, optoelectronics and drones – says Gen. Szkutnik.
In the field, among others, a strategy of footbridges, reflection towers, watch stations was created. – Thanks to the engineering divisions, we managed to do something that would stay for years. I believe profoundly that 1 day the military will come out of this area. The buffer region will be abolished, and then, for example, the footbridges we built will service tourists who will come to admire the highly beautiful terrain here and the wonderful nature," explains the commander of the 18th Mechanicalised Division. The imagination of tourism improvement Podlasie fits into General Arkadiusz Szkutnik's private interests. The commander of the 18th Mechanized Division loves to interact with nature, and most willingly does so actively, practicing long-distance runs. My wife and I are engaged in cross-country tourism. She cares about logistics, I run – the gene smiles. The shoemaker and admits that his next passions are motorcycles and sports shooting. – Motorcycle gives incredible freedom, provides a different kind of adrenaline than the 1 we have all day. In turn, dynamic sports shooting is simply a large way for me to self-improve – noted this year's Buzdygan winner.
