What can I expect while doing a rotation in Poland as an 11B? What are items to bring, things to study for before going, etc.?

2021-09-22T12:37:07-04:00

I'm up for a rotation to Poland and was looking for any feed back on what to expect. What are items to bring, things to study for before going, things to get my joes spun up on and so forth.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Sep 22 at 2021 1:38 PM

2021-09-22T13:38:51-04:00

Never been to Poland. However, I have always read history on places I am headed to. Europeans tend to be more focused on history than Americans. Also, take time to get some cultural understanding. Talk about not being the “ugly American “.

Response by SSG Brian L. made Sep 22 at 2021 1:56 PM

2021-09-22T13:56:33-04:00

aside from kindles and laptops with many tera bytes of movies? I haven't done a rotation to Poland but I would pray to have two a days at the gym also... thats all I got for you

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2021 2:02 PM

2021-09-22T14:02:43-04:00

You need G2 on the location you are going to and the facilities, then you can backward plan.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2021 3:08 PM

2021-09-22T15:08:08-04:00

I got back from Poland in October. You're going to want to bring or buy as soon as you get there a wifi puck. Typically, overseas service on US phone plans costs alot. You can get a puck cheap if people are leaving, otherwise it'll run between $75-200 depending on what one you get. Plans are reasonable, you can get 100GB of data for like 60 a month (trust me, between movies, internet, etc., you go through it quick). If you have a chance to get off post, you can get 1000TB wifi puck for a few hundred and it'll last you your entire rotation.

Response by SGT Dan Theman made Sep 22 at 2021 7:15 PM

2021-09-22T19:15:10-04:00

Expect Brrrrrrr

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 23 at 2021 5:04 AM

2021-09-23T05:04:15-04:00

It used to be standard Army practice for long term assignments to a Foreign Country that everyone go through a two week tourist learn the foreign language and culture course. They always did that for rotations to Germany. And attending the two week intro to Germany Defense Language Institute Course was part of inprocessing to an overseas German post during the Cold War. You never know when your going to need it and the locals appreciate the attempt to learn. So if you have time, you should consider it. They are probably online now. When I was in uniform it was a mandatory two week classroom training with a civilian German instructor.

Response by SSG Marshall Paul made Sep 23 at 2021 6:48 PM

2021-09-23T18:48:26-04:00

Travel light, freeze at night.

Response by SFC Jaysin Smith made Sep 24 at 2021 9:17 AM

2021-09-24T09:17:42-04:00

Have them read up in the culture, customs etc. There should be a cultural liaison that can help your soldiers adjust. If all else fails.... Find the best spots for Hookers, Liquor, Beer And Bacon!!! Never fails to raise morale and bacon is fuckin delicious! Hooah

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2021 1:11 AM

2021-09-25T01:11:28-04:00

Never been wouldn't mind going one day