Rollie & Salin
Great to hear from you! I've been meaning to reach out for too long, but a lot has happened over the past few months.
I'm actually in Poland currently. I moved to Fort Carson, Colorado from Fort Moore, Georgia back in late July, and my unit was in the middle of a Europe rotation augmenting our forces in some of the eastern European member states. I flew over here a few weeks ago after finishing the move. The unit has done several training events with the Polish Army, and I'm working on the battalion staff until I become an infantry platoon leader shortly.
I'm learning even more about European security through this experience, and from a different angle than possible as a graduate student. Thanks to a senior officer at Fort Carson who went to grad school on a scholarship after graduating from USMA like I did, I was able to come to this unit, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and participate in the rotation. It feels great to finally start applying everything I learned over the past several years, from West Point to TUM and IBOLC. I've never forgotten the role I can play in "peace and conflict prevention" or the role that Rotary played in teaching me everything I know today about how I can further that cause.
I'll check in with the unit and see if I can share some pictures from the training we've done since they need to approve their release.
Wishing you and the rest of the club all the best from Poland!
Sincerely,
George Pavlakis
P.S.
It sure has been quite an experience! Unfortunately, Janina (George and she were married in 2023) is back in Colorado, the unit rotates through for 9 months but the families stay back. This brigade was here last for 9 months in 2022, went back for a year, then came back out again this spring.
1-68AR is a combined arms battalion, which means there are two tank companies and a mechanized infantry company organic to the battalion. The tanks and infantry support each other during operations with their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Note: It has been very rewarding to get to know George, who is a credit to the army, the country, and to the Avon-Canton Rotary. We look forward to further news of his progress.