FORT GREELY, Alaska - Reporters from the Washington D.C.-based Polish Radio and TV toured the Missile Defense site Feb. 21.
The timing of this visit is significant due to Poland and the Czech Republic deciding on whether or not their countries will agree to host a missile defense capability.
Missile defense is one of the missions of U.S. Northern Command, which works closely with the Missile Defense Agency, the 100th Missile Defense Battalion and the 49th Missile Defense Battalion to ensure the security of the United States from any ballistic missile threat.
During the visit, the reporters ate lunch with and interviewed Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion (Ground Missile Defense). Made up entirely of Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers, the battalion has the dual mission of manning the missile defense system and securing the Missile Defense Complex.
"The intent of this visit was to make sure that the people of Poland had accurate information on the basic look and design of a functional missile defense site," said Polish TV reporter Piotr Krasko.
Once at the Missile Defense Complex, the media representatives received a tour of the site with predetermined shots throughout. This visit marks the first time a television crew has been allowed to film inside the MDC.
"It is important for us to have the Missile Defense story told," said Maj. Joseph Miley, executive officer of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion. "When you are around such an incredible system all the time, the incredible becomes the ordinary."
A novelty of the visit to the site, which is in a fairly remote area of Alaska and close to the Arctic Circle, was the need for the reporters to wear slip-on traction devices on their boots.
The visitors liked the traction devices so much they went to the Fort Greely Post Exchange and bought a couple of pairs each to take home with them.
"We were hoping for great weather, and with temperatures hanging around 40 degrees below zero, we got more than we expected," said Jan Mikruta, Radio Poland Correspondent.
The two media outlets have a combined audience of 14 million people.