recent odc activities 2008 

Polish Sergeant Honored for Language Achievement

30 April 2008

The U.S. Air Force is providing five C-130E aircraft, similar to the one shown, to Poland beginning  in  November 2008.  Total value of the gratis package is nearly $150M dollars.

Sergeant Andrzej Kozera of the Polish Air Force was honored as the Distinguished Graduate of the Defense Language Institute’s English-language Training Course at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas on April 29.  Sergeant Kozera received the Air Education and Training Command’s “Commander’s Award for Superior Academic Achievement.”  Sergeant Kozera will proceed to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, to continue his studies as a C-130 Flight Engineer.  Upon his return to Poland, he will work at Powidz Air Base. 

C-130 aircraft will begin arriving in Poland as early as November 2008.  At the request of President Bush, the U.S. Air Force is providing five used C-130E aircraft, worth $44M, to Poland’s Air Force.  Over $100M of U.S.-taxpayer-provided Foreign Military Financing will be used to refurbish the aircraft, train pilots and technical personnel, and provide long-term support.  Additionally, the U.S. European Command is funding numerous familiarization events to assist the Polish Air Force in utilizing these aircraft.   

Within the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation, Major Kenneth Ribble, U.S. Air Force, is charged with managing this important program that will provide our Polish allies with the capability to deploy forces and equipment to contingency operations.