Volume 6 Issue 4 June 2014 Inside this Issue Civil-Military Cooperation in Foreword 1 Polish Armed Forces Introduction 2 Historical Background of Civil-Military Co- operation 2 CIMIC Elements in Action 2 - 5 CIMIC in the Polish Armed Forces – Present Day 5 - 6 Conclusion 6 Foreword The CIMIC messenger role is to inform the CIMIC family and our civilian partners on relevant and current issues within the world of Civil Military Interaction and CIMIC. CCOE started in 2013 and continues in 2014 to focus on national approaches on CIMIC and related concepts focusing on our Sponsoring Nations and US Civil Affairs. But CCOE also encouraged other nations, representa- tives etc. to provide similar inputs using the ”CIMIC Messenger” as a platform to convey the information. This fourth issue will focus on CIMIC from a Polish point of view informing on the development of CIMIC capability in Poland. M. Braterschofsky Deputy Director CCOE www.cimic-coe.org June 2014 This article is written by Sebastian Sarna, The Unit of General Support for Civil – Military Co- Major POL (A) CIMIC Specialist at General Com- operation (CIMIC UGS) was brought to life in 2001. mand of the Polish Armed Forces. Its task was to monitor the situation of the NATO, the United Nations (UN) and the OSCE (Organization for INTRODUCTION Security and Co-operation in Europe) areas of inter- est, train CIMIC staff, support commanders, cooper- Polish Army, both for historical reasons and probably ate and coordinate actions with local authorities and because of national characteristics attributed to the international organizations, provide assistance in Poles such as openness and hospitality, always was solving problems of the local population as well as in close relations with the civilians. Soldiers, whether planning and organizing activities of introducing ex- in the partitions or during World War II, were for the perts for stabilization and reconstruction of system of Polish nation the only hope to regain freedom and local administration in area of responsibility. independence. Even in the Polish People’s Republic period, during communist rule, the military was wildly respected and hold a big public trust. In these years The United Nations entrusted polish soldiers with tasks associated with keeping the peace in different places in the world. Inseparably it connected with es- tablishing partnerships with representatives of the ci- vilians of various nations. 1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CIVIL – MILITARY COOPERATION Picture: First badge of Polish CIMIC Unit. As a result of organizational changes, in 2004 Polish Armed Forces have very extensive, dating UGSC-MC was transformed in Central Support back to the fifties of the last century, experiences Group for Civil – Military Cooperation (CIMIC CSG). from stabilization missions - in 2013 the sixtieth an- As the unit still was relatively new, some command- niversary of polish peacekeeping involvement was ers wasn’t sure, how they can take advantage of celebrated. During expeditionary operations main- knowledge and capabilities of CIMIC soldiers. Com- taining peace enduring or peace enforcement, in or- manders’ awareness, and consequently CIMIC CSG der to ensure safety and proper functioning of the meaning increased definitely, since unit has begun contingents, it was necessary to conduct activities, its participation in military operations. which currently could be named as civil – military in- Currently CIMIC is one of the basic ele- teractions. Already at that time there were ideas of ments of each military operation which is conducted creation a specialist units capable of establishing re- by Poland as part of the NATO commitment or inter- lations with members of local environment. national initiative. However, it was joining the NATO, and allied idea of comprehensive approach, encompassing a 2. CIMIC ELEMENTS IN ACTION broad spectrum of relationships between the Alli- ance and civil authorities, what sparked developing Considering the involvement of the Armed Forces in and implementing plan of creation in the Polish international expeditionary operations, Poland faced Armed Forces a Civil – Military Cooperation (CIMIC) the necessity of taking into account social, political, unit. A unit with the scope of tasks covering under- cultural, religious, economic, environmental and hu- takings connected with coordination of joint actions manitarian factors of area of responsibility and inter- of commander and civil elements. By civil elements est, in the planning and conduct of operations pro- should be understood civilians, local authorities and cesses. It was necessary to include in the structures international organizations, governmental and non- of operational forces, basic elements of Civil – Mili- governmental acting in their areas of competence tary Cooperation. and responsibility. 2 June 2014 4 Tactical Support Teams (TST), 3 Governance Support Teams (GST) attached to Coalitional Pro- vincial Authorities, CIMIC Centre, Civilian Functional Specialists section and Support Platoon. The main CIMIC task executed by CIMIC soldiers was establishing civil – military relationships in MNDC-S Area of Responsibility, and the aims were assessing and monitoring situation of civil en- vironment. Detailed tasks of CIMIC Support Group involved: Picture: One of the first Polish CIMIC patrols. – restoration and monitoring public safety and se- curity; CIMIC sub-units commenced theirs participation in military operations in 2003. It was the first rotation of – building capacity and supporting the growth of the Polish Military Contingent (PMC) in Iraq. From local governance structures as well as creating the very beginning they become a great liaison be- conditions for conducting elections accepted by the international community; tween local people and deployed forces. It has be- come clear as well, that participation in the missions – assistance in reconstruction and rebuilding the is the best way to raise the level of training, both for infrastructure; individuals and for units. That’s why, CIMIC ele- – provision of humanitarian aid and cooperation ments were involved in almost all polish contingents with international organisations; in Iraq, Afghanistan and Chad. CIMIC soldiers were gaining experience being part of military operations – creating and sustaining conditions that contrib- in Bosnia, Kosovo, Syria and Lebanon and they were uted to the development of such sectors and ser- acting as military observers in Sudan and Ivory vices as: administration and public affairs, med- Coast. ical services, culture and education, public safety and law enforcement, finance and bank- IRAQ ing, economy and commerce, construction and infrastructure, environment protection, agricul- Danger that Saddam Hussein’s regime posed, fo- ture and irrigation, as well as heritage preserva- cused attention of the international community on tion and archaeology. the potential threat to world peace and security from Iraq’s chemical and biological weapon which might have contributed to the terrorist attacks or destabili- zation of the entire region. Under Resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council in May 2003, Poland decided to deploy 2.5 thousand military personnel within the operation ‘Iraqi Free- dom’ and was the frame nation of Multinational Divi- sion Central – South (MNDC-S). Over time, the focus of the operation ‘Iraqi Freedom’ gradually shifted from stabilization to training and advising mission, in- cluding both logistics and special operations as well, Picture: PMC Iraq - control of the project with the aim of establishing stable and democratic Carrying out above mentioned tasks CIMIC Group governance system. executed approximately 1500 patrols, and 8000 Mission in Iraq for the newly formed Civil – meetings during the mission. Many of these under- Military Cooperation unit was the baptism of fire, in- takings were oriented to conduct projects which deed. Initially CIMIC Support Group consisted of: were financed with CERP fund (Commander's Emer- gency Response Program). 3 June 2014 The total numbers of CIMIC projects conducted by Forces (ANSF) to perform their functions after they CIMIC Group in Iraq during whole mission was 2547 take over the responsibility for the province. projects for the total cost more than 141 million dol- lars. Operation “Iraqi Freedom” required an ex- tensive engagement of Coalition Forces, including Multinational Division Central-South under Polish command, in restoring governance structures domi- nated by former supporters of Saddam Hussein’s re- gime and in rebuilding critical infrastructure dam- aged or destroyed by military operations. CIMIC ef- forts and experience developed in Iraq would play a key role in other peace support operations, in either Afghanistan or other places in the world. Picture: PMC Afghanistan – comprehensive activities: data collecting and humanitarian assistance AFGHANISTAN In result of experiences coming from mission in Iraq, Suicide attacks on 11th September 2001 have be- presence of Civil – Military units was unquestiona- come the main reason why many countries in the ble. The main element deployed by CIMIC CSG re- world have involved in the global antiterrorist cam- mained CIMIC Support Group. These sub-unit, dur- paign in the area of the Islamic Republic of Afghani- ing the period of greatest involvement, consisted of stan. In December 2001 under the United Nations 4 TSTs. Additionally, CIMIC CSG ensured soldiers Security Council Resolution, the NATO-led Interna- for: ISAF Command