Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Prosser, then V Corps forward command sergeant major, right, shakes the hand of Sgt. Walter Malecki, the first soldier permanently assigned to Poland, shortly after his arrival to Poznan, Poland, on Feb. 10, 2023. (Devin Klecan/U.S. Army)
U.S. Army leaders in Poland are overhauling how incoming soldiers are prepared for assignments, aiming to plug gaps that left some troops paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for housing.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk Hamlin, a V Corps human resources technician, said the unit began strengthening outreach efforts in recent weeks, including direct contact with incoming soldiers and new orientation town halls conducted with U.S. Army Garrison Poland.
“We realized that we had something to improve on, and we took it and ran head forward,” Hamlin said.
The U.S. military footprint in Poland has expanded significantly in recent years, with rotational forces transitioning to more persistent units and the arrival of command-sponsored families, a shift that increased complexity for sponsorship and newcomer support.
The overhaul follows concerns highlighted earlier this year in a Stars and Stripes report examining upfront housing costs and financial readiness challenges for troops arriving in Poland.
The report detailed the experience of some soldiers arriving in Poland who were required to cover significant upfront housing costs before reimbursements and allowances fully processed.
Several troops said they were unaware of the size of those expenses before arriving, creating financial strain during the first weeks of their assignment. The story raised broader questions about how well incoming personnel were being prepared for the transition.
That reporting prompted V Corps leaders to review processes and implement new measures to reach soldiers earlier and more consistently before arrival.
“In January, the current command group became fully aware of the systemic nature of these challenges,” said Col. Marco Lyons, V Corps deputy chief of staff. “Within 24 hours, the commanding general tasked the command group to conduct a 30-day assessment and develop recommendations.”
The review produced about 20 recommendations, which leaders are using to refine sponsorship policies and coordination across the command, including lessons learned about how the program should evolve.
The recommendations remain under review by the commanding general but include strengthening early outreach and formalizing sponsorship engagement.
Leaders also emphasized improved coordination, earlier engagement and more deliberate tracking of sponsorship completion to ensure that soldiers receive accurate information before reporting.
“We’re making sure that every soldier is being contacted,” Hamlin said. “Every soldier will get the information that they need.”
The first town hall was conducted Feb. 26, and others will be held monthly moving forward, Hamlin said. They are designed to provide detailed information on housing, finances and administrative requirements.
Hamlin tracks attendance and follows up individually with soldiers who do not participate. He is also sending weekly communications to incoming personnel and maintaining direct contact with sponsors to ensure information is reaching soldiers before arrival.
The initiative is part of a broader effort directed by senior leadership after recognizing systemic challenges.
The challenges were primarily due to the evolving nature of the U.S. presence in Poland, Lyons said.
“We had a lot of good pieces, but the pieces weren’t directly linked in the way that we needed to,” he said.
The U.S. military footprint in Poland is much different from that of other European countries with long-established bases. In the words of 1st Sgt. Jeremy Brown of F Company, V Corps headquarters, Poland is a “maturing theater.”
“This doesn’t have the same level of infrastructure as anything traditional,” Brown said, adding that Poland is “probably the most unique” environment for military moves that he has seen.
Leaders said one of the biggest improvements involve reaching soldiers earlier, sometimes up to 120 days before arrival, and tailoring information specifically to Poland rather than relying on generic Army guidance.
That includes pairing incoming soldiers with sponsors who have similar situations or experience levels and maintaining communication during the first several months after arrival.
The focus aligns with recent Army guidance placing responsibility for onboarding on commanders and senior noncommissioned officers.
“Sponsorship is a readiness issue,” Brown said. “We want them to show up as close to ready as possible.”