International Day is an annual meeting of soldiers and civilian employees from all NATO and supporting units in Bydgoszcz, their families, as well as local NATO partners and friends. They all responded to Major General Norbert Wagner’s, the Joint Force Training Commander, invitation also this year and got together on July 19 at the 3rd NATO Signal Battalion’s compound.
International Days create a unique opportunity for the NATO community of Bydgoszcz to share and explore what is best in NATO and Partner nations and also to get to know each other better and to strengthen bonds among the Allies as well as among staff members. Learning from each other allows NATO members build unity and maintain cohesion of the Alliance.
This year, representatives of 19 countries - Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States of America - presented their national colours, cultures, traditions, regional cuisine and more. An important element of the musical setting of the event was the performance by Room 71, a band formed by JFTC staff members. Other attractions included a special playground for children and rides in historic military vehicles.
Every year on this occasion, the NATO community of Bydgoszcz enjoys the presence of important partners and friends of the Alliance. This year's International Day was attended by representatives of regional and local authorities, including the Voivode of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mr. Michał Sztybel and the Deputy Mayor of Bydgoszcz, Mr. Łukasz Krupa. The invitation was also accepted by Bydgoszcz honorary consuls – of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Ukraine, as well as by the commanders of Polish military units located in Bydgoszcz.
Execution of such a complex event for the still-growing NATO family in Bydgoszcz would not have been possible without the tremendous and passionate work of the planning team, led by the NATO Joint Force Training Centre. The team was supported by NATO and Polish units located in Bydgoszcz, to include the 3rd NATO Signal Battalion, NATO Force Integration Unit Poland, NATO Military Police Centre of Excellence, Host Nation Support Unit, as well as staff members from local elements of the NATO Communications and Information Agency, National Support Elements, and representatives of all involved nations.
