The two-week Potential Non-Commissioned Officer (PNCO) Course, organized by the British component of Battle Group Poland, ended with a line-up ceremony at the Barracks “Bemowo Piskie” on 25^th January. Along with British soldiers, for whom this course is a prerequisite for the first NCO rank, soldiers from all member countries of Battle Group Poland and representatives of the host country participated in the PNCO course. The Croatian Armed Forces were represented by two members of the 3^rd Croatian Contingent in eFPBG-USA: Private Dinko Plavotić, a member of a Military Police team, and Private Ivan Ćubel, an attendant at the Freight Transport Squad of the Self-Propelled Multiple Rocket Launcher Battery.

PNCO is devised as a course where soldiers are trained to become leaders and where their ability to lead other soldiers in all conditions is evaluated. Their physical and mental capabilities are tested and the peak of the course is an exercise that enables the participants to demonstrate their military skills and their leadership capabilities. The course is focused on the acquisition of theoretical principles of commanding and the practical application of the said principles in real conditions. The aim of the course is for the soldiers to develop the personality traits of a leader and to learn the skills necessary for their development into NCOs capable of commanding, leading and managing. They are expected to become role models to their subordinates and to contribute to team spirit and the efficacy of an operation.

Out of 25 participants who started the course, 15 finished it successfully. Private Dinko Plavotić was named the best international participant.

Since the course only allowed four hours of daily rest, Private Plavotić first caught up on all the sleep he had lost and then shared his impression of this unique experience with us: “Each day we woke up early, inspected our equipment and exercised for an hour and a half in uniform, with our entire combat equipment. After that, we had maybe five minutes for breakfast and then continued with the training. During the course, we studied, trained and sharpened our team leadership techniques and methods.” Private Plavotić concludes: “Even though the course lasted only two weeks, the lack of sleep made it seem protracted and extremely strenuous.”

Private Ćubel says he did not expect the course to be so difficult. He does not know what motivated him to continue with course as days went on. On the fourth day, he finally realized he could finish it. After a few soldiers had given up, he decided to hold out until the very end. On the last day of the course, he felt pain in his knees during a walk through the snow-covered forest tracts of the training range. However, his will power was stronger than the pain. He said to himself: “After I have gone through so far, I will make it to the end, even if I have to do it with only one leg. I know that I can do it.” He learnt the most important lesson at PNCO from British instructors, who constantly repeated: “When things get tough, the tough get going.”

The 3^rd Croatian Contingent in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) is a part of Battle Group Poland (BGP), which has been added to the 15^th Mechanized Brigade from Giżycko, Poland. The leading nation within the BGP is the United States of America. Apart from Americans and Croats, the group is also comprised of the members of the armed forces of Romania and the United Kingdom.

Text by PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER OF 3^RD CROATIAN CONTINGENT IN eFPBG-USA

Photo by PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER OF 3RD CROATIAN CONTINGENT IN eFPBG-USA & USA PAO SGT SARAH KIRBY

Translation by IVA GUGO