TROOP REVIEW: The Polish GROM

The most well-known special unit of the younger EU member states is the Jednostka Wojskowa Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowego (loosely translated: Reaction Group for Operations-Maneuver), better known by the abbreviation GROM (translated: Thunder). We have put together a small troop show of these European top-tier task forces.

Equipment-wise, the GROM does not differ significantly from other Western special units. The assault rifle of choice is the HK416, pictured with ACOG sighting and attached RMR (both from Trijicon) and Surefire lamp. Unlike their US counterparts, the Poles rely on the (IR) lasers from Laser Devices, in this case a DBAL.Showing that not everything has to be uniform is the ATACS-AU dump pouch. On the left of the image is an M110 from Knights Armament, used as a DMR. The head is - not surprisingly - protected by Ops-Core helmets with corresponding accessories. The Polaris quads are also used by the GROM. Interestingly, the Polish manufacturer Helikon Tex uses the (very) Multicam-like pattern Camogrom for the uniform, but to us, the pants and shirts in the image above look very much like Crye Precision. Similar to DEVGRU, the GROM are not afraid of water. While they have their own Polish combat diver unit with the Formoza, as the country's elite, the GROM must be able to carry out missions in their territory as well.

In summary, it can be said that the GROM is a Western special unit that does not need to hide behind its counterparts. Of course, they do not have the resources of the US Tier-1 forces, but in European terms, they are among the very best.