Jednostka Wojskowa AGAT is a
specialized light infantry
Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
unit of the
Polish Armed Forces
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland ( pl, Siły Zbrojne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, abbreviated ''SZ RP''; popularly called ''Wojsko Polskie'' in Poland, abbreviated ''WP''—roughly, the "Polish Military") are the national armed forces of ...
. A relatively new unit, its name is shortened for “anti-
gestapo
The (), abbreviated Gestapo (; ), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe.
The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of Prussia into one orga ...
” in honor of a
WWII
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
Polish Home Army
The Home Army ( pl, Armia Krajowa, abbreviated AK; ) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) est ...
Combat Diversion unit. As an advanced infantry unit, its role is comparable to that of the
75th Ranger Regiment.
History
This unit was formed on the basis of the Special Branch of the Military Police in
Gliwice
Gliwice (; german: Gleiwitz) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. The city is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river (a tributary of the Oder). It lies approximately 25 km west from Katowice, the regional capi ...
, taking over its barracks complex and part the staff, the date of formation of the basic units of the unit was designated for June 30, 2011, so that the unit can from 1 July 2011 begin its role as a functioning unit within the
Special Troops Command.
The unit is an airborne formation and is tasked with securing and supporting operations of the Special Forces. The unit is also to carry out offensive tasks aimed at slowing down enemy forces, subversive operations and operations behind enemy lines. In order for the unit to be equal to the best special units in the country and in the world, it participates in exercises with special units of other
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
countries - and most often with
US soldiers. In comparison to the other STC units, AGAT is fitted out with heavy weapons such as
heavy machine guns
A heavy machine gun (HMG) is significantly larger than light, medium or general-purpose machine guns. HMGs are typically too heavy to be man-portable (carried by one person) and require mounting onto a weapons platform to be operably stable or ...
and anti-tank rocket launchers.
JW AGAT's members attend
Ranger School
The United States Army Ranger School is a 62-day small unit tactics and leadership course that develops functional skills directly related to units whose mission is to engage the enemy in close combat and direct fire battles.
Ranger training wa ...
, but due to financial problems and lack of more free slots in Ranger School, as all trainings and schools connected with SOF are so busy that it is necessary to wait for free slot, even for US military staff, it was reported that the DWS together with JW AGAT were negotiating a deal for the arrival of some rangers, about 8-10 trainers, to Poland to lead the training.
Structure
The unit is made up of three Assault Groups (Polish:''Grup Szturmowych'') and support elements. It was planned that by the end of 2012 combat capability will be reached by Assault Group "A", subsequent Teams are to have the following deadlines for combat capability - Group "B" initial readiness in 2013 and total in 2015, Group "C" is expected to achieve total combat capability by 2016. Current subunits include:
* HQ Staff and Command Group
* Assault Company A
* Assault Company B
* Assault Company C
* Combat Support Team
* Logistics Security Team
* Medical Security Group
Commanders
*Colonel
Sławomir Berdychowski (2011 - 13.X.2014)
*Colonel
Sławomir Drumowicz (13.X.2014 - 8.X.2018)
*Colonel
Artur Kozłowski (8.X.2018–present)
See also
*
75th Ranger Regiment -
US army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
equivalent unit
*
Special Forces Support Group -
British army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
equivalent unit
*
31st Ranger Battalion -
Swedish Army equivalent unit
References
Jednostka Wojskowa "Agat"Special Operations: Polish Rangers
External links
Official website of the Wojska Specjalne
{{DEFAULTSORT:Special Forces Of Poland