- U.S. Abrams crews conducted training in Poland under difficult autumn weather conditions as part of NATO’s Forward Land Forces expansion.
- The exercise tested NATO’s ability to move and sustain heavy armor by rail across Poland to reinforce the eastern flank.
U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are conducting intensive armored training in Poland under late-autumn conditions that mirror the challenges of Eastern Europe.
On November 18, 2025, crews maneuvered an M1A2 Abrams tank through a water obstacle and mud fields at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area as part of the Forward Land Forces expansion exercise, a NATO-focused drill designed to rehearse mobility, sustainment, and the rapid repositioning of heavy armor along the alliance’s eastern flank.
U.S. Army officials said the exercise brought Abrams crews and support units by rail from multiple training locations across Poland to consolidate combat power, verify operational mobility, and refine NATO’s ability to shift armored forces quickly in support of allied defense.
Crews trained under weather conditions typical of Eastern Europe’s late autumn: cold, mud-heavy terrain, and unpredictable temperature changes. It is important to note that tank crews and the equipment itself train in conditions characteristic of Eastern Europe, which has capricious weather during the inter-season, placing enormous pressure on both the people and the equipment.
According to the Army, water crossings and terrain mobility drills allow tank commanders and support elements to practice combat maneuvering in realistic field conditions. Exercises also include vehicle recovery, formation transitions, and coordination between tracked and wheeled vehicles under poor visibility and environmental stress.
The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team’s participation focused on demonstrating NATO’s ability to reposition armor by rail across Polish territory. According to previous releases from the alliance, rail transit remains a cornerstone of NATO’s eastern mobility planning, allowing heavy forces to reposition faster than by road and with fewer logistical constraints.
The training exercise emphasized not only maneuverability, but also the ability to sustain combat operations once armor reaches its forward position. Fuel, maintenance, and repair elements from the brigade supported the Abrams units throughout the event.
The Polish Armed Forces assisted in the coordination of rail transfers and training site management. Poland continues to serve as a major NATO logistics hub for armored unit exercises, particularly along the alliance’s northeastern axis adjacent to the Suwalki Gap.
The U.S. and Polish militaries have conducted multiple joint exercises in recent years focused on interoperability and collective defense readiness. The Forward Land Forces expansion is one of several annual efforts that bring together U.S. Army Europe elements and allied partners for coordinated, armor-focused field training.